A federal judge has ruled that Google created an illegal monopoly by paying partners to make its search engine the default on smartphones and mobile browsers. Judge Amit Mehta’s 277-page decision found that Google violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act.
The ruling stems from a 2020 antitrust lawsuit filed by the Justice Department, accusing Google of monopolizing the search market through billion-dollar deals with device makers like Apple and Samsung.
The judge agreed with prosecutors, declaring that Google holds “monopoly powers” in both general search and search ads, and that its distribution agreements have anticompetitive effects, such as inflating ad prices.
Despite the ruling, no immediate remedy was offered. The case will move to a second phase to determine how to address the monopolization. Google plans to appeal, asserting that the decision overlooks the quality and popularity of its search engine. Critics, however, see the ruling as a victory against tech monopolies, emphasizing the need to hold Google accountable for its antitrust violations.
