U.S. Judge Rules Against Google for Antitrust Violations

Washington (Monitoring Desk): A U.S. judge has ruled that Google has spent billions of dollars to illegally maintain its monopoly in the search engine market. This decision is being described as historic, with allegations that Google violated antitrust laws.

The case against Google, initiated in 2020, accused the tech giant of using illegal methods to monopolize online search. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta delivered a 277-page ruling stating that Google had violated antitrust regulations and maintained an illegal monopoly in the search industry.

The judge’s ruling notes that Google invests billions annually to ensure its search engine is the default option on new mobile phones and electronic devices.

The exact penalties or remedies for Google and its parent company, Alphabet, will be determined in future hearings. The ruling could potentially change the business practices of major tech companies. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland hailed the decision as a historic win for the American public, asserting that no company, regardless of its size or influence, is above the law.

Kent Walker, President of Global Affairs at Google, announced that the company plans to appeal the decision, noting that Judge Mehta acknowledged Google as the industry’s best search engine.

The case was filed by the Trump administration, with hearings taking place from September to November of the previous year. The Department of Justice accused Google of using its dominance in internet search to gain unfair advantages over competitors.

Official Information: For more details on the case and the ruling, visit the U.S. Department of Justice official website and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.