Federal Judge rules Google held illegal monopoly

Google’s playing monopoly, and it just landed on Go To Jail.

Okay, well, I don’t know if anyone’s actually going to jail. But according to a U.S. federal judge, Google has held a monopoly on search and text advertising, illegally.

This is big news.

The ruling on the tech giant is the first antitrust decision of the modern internet era.

And it may very well change how tech companies do business, and how we get information online. For better or for worse? It’s too soon to tell.

In a 277-page ruling, Judge Amit P. Mehta said Google had abused a monopoly over the search business.

How? Google has illegally cemented its dominance by paying other companies like Apple and Samsung tens of BILLIONS of dollars a year to have Google automatically handle any search queries consumers have on their smartphones and web browsers.

These contracts have given Google the scale to block out rivals (or would-be rivals) such as Microsoft’s Bing and DuckDuckGo. Judge Mehta has called this 'anticompetitive behaviour.'

The company has also charged high prices in search advertising, reflecting its monopoly power. It has built an internet search empire. But it has done so by violating antitrust laws.

Google, girl… you in trouble.

This case is one of the largest antitrust rulings in decades. 

It comes off the back of a broader push in recent years by the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission (and European regulators) to scrutinise big tech companies for monopolistic practices.

There was no jury in the trial (there rarely is in these cases), which began in September of last year and wrapped up the first week of May. Google, of course, will appeal the decision.

President of Global Affairs, Kent Walker, said parts of the ruling admitted Google's search engine was superior to the rest. He went on to say, 'This decision recognises that Google offers the best search engine but concludes that we shouldn’t be allowed to make it easily available.' Well, that's one way to look at it…

However, Google’s exclusive deals with Apple and other key players have created this mobile ecosystem. When users want to find info, Google is always the easier, faster platform on their phones. And this means it has become everyone's go-to.

This, in turn, has fuelled Google's massive online advertising business…

Do you see the picture I’m painting here?

Turns out, everyone does, because the trial's result has people cheering from the sidelines. Even the White House called the ruling 'a victory for the American people.'

Attorney General Merrick Garland said of the case, 'No company — no matter how large or influential — is above the law.'

And White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement, 'As President Biden and Vice President Harris have long said, Americans deserve an internet that is free, fair, and open for competition.'

This is the second high-profile antitrust defeat for ol’ Google. Back in December 2023, a federal jury said Google runs an illegal monopoly with its proprietary app store.

Sorry Google bruv, it’s not looking good.

That raises the question, what happens next?

Penalties? Perhaps. The decision is expected to trigger another proceeding that will determine Google's fate.

Let’s be real. With a case this huge, we won’t be seeing consequences for the tech giant for at least a couple of years.

But the ruling could overthrow how Google makes its search engine available to users. Especially if it's no longer allowed to make the insanely pricey deals with device makers and service providers that it has been.

The court could also order that Google implement a 'choice screen' letting users knows about other search engines. This would essentially force it to advertise for its competitors.

Now if that ain’t punishment…

There will also, of course, be fines. But what are fines to a company like Google? A slap on the wrist and not adequate means for enforcing the law.

And finally, the company will face yet another antitrust lawsuit later this year. This one will focus on its advertising practices and whether it monopolised key advertising technology.

Messy behaviour, Google!!

So, what have we learnt here?

If you haven’t already, it’s a good time to think about your SEO strategies on other search engines. A ruling like this could send flocks of consumers onto rival engines, and you’d be smart to be the first to jump in there.

For now, I’m going to sit back, relax, and watch the Big Tech Guys get taken down a peg.

You know, for the people.

-Sophie, Writer