Google is facing a landmark antitrust trial beginning Monday, as U.S. officials seek to break up the tech giant's dominance in the search engine market.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has brought the case to court, arguing that Google should be forced to sell its Chrome browser to restore competition to the online search market.
The outcome of the trial could have significant ramifications, potentially disrupting Google's long-standing position as the primary gateway to the internet. The DOJ hopes that the trial will not only challenge Google's monopoly in search but also prevent the company from extending its dominance into emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
During the opening statements, DOJ attorney David Dahlquist emphasized the bipartisan nature of the case, noting that it had been initiated under the Trump administration and carried forward under President Biden. "The full support of the DOJ both past and present" is behind this effort, he stated.
In response, Google has signaled its intent to appeal any unfavorable ruling. Google executive Lee-Anne Mulholland criticized the DOJ's proposed remedies, suggesting that they were too extreme and would disrupt the company's operations. "When it comes to antitrust remedies, the U.S. Supreme Court has said that 'caution is key,'" Mulholland wrote in a blog post. "DOJ's proposal throws that caution to the wind."
Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater, however, rejected Google's concerns, arguing that failing to address Google's monopoly would be "irresponsible." Slater, speaking outside the courthouse on Monday morning, stressed the need for action to address Google's abuse of its market power.
The trial is being overseen by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta and is expected to last for three weeks. At the center of the case is Google's practice of paying billions of dollars annually to companies like Apple to make its search engine the default on smartphones and tablets. The DOJ and a coalition of 38 state attorneys general are pushing for drastic measures, including ending these exclusive agreements, requiring Google to license search results to competitors, and potentially forcing the company to sell its Android operating system if other remedies fail to restore competition.
The DOJ also plans to call witnesses from AI companies, including Perplexity AI and OpenAI, to testify about how Google's exclusive agreements have hindered competition in the AI sector. Google, on the other hand, sees these proposals as excessive, arguing that cutting off financial support to browser makers like Mozilla and device vendors would harm the tech ecosystem and lead to higher costs for consumers.
The trial follows a recent win for the DOJ in a separate antitrust case, where a Virginia court ruled that Google maintains an illegal monopoly in advertising technology. The case is part of broader scrutiny of big tech companies, with Meta Platforms currently facing its own antitrust trial over its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.
Mexico is suing Google for disregarding repeated requests to stop referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" for U.S. users on Google Maps.
Google plans to appeal parts of a recent U.S. court ruling that found it had unlawfully maintained monopoly power in parts of the online ad market, specifically in publisher ad servers and ad exchanges, while the court dismissed other antitrust claims.
A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Google illegally built monopoly power in its online advertising business, siding with the Department of Justice in a landmark antitrust case that could force the tech giant to break up parts of its empire.
China has dismissed the recent decision by Google to rename parts of the disputed South China Sea, which now labels maritime areas near the Philippines as the West Philippine Sea.
Pavel Prass, co-owner of Yandex, is set to increase his stake in rival VK, signaling consolidation in Russia’s tech sector. The move follows a $5.4 billion deal for Yandex's assets and VK's plan to raise up to 115 billion roubles to tackle mounting debt.
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, has accused Western countries of demanding a 30-day ceasefire to give Ukraine’s military a chance to regroup. Zakharova's remarks highlight the growing tension surrounding the ongoing war and the international calls for temporary peace in orde
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has declared his readiness for direct peace talks with Russia in Turkey, describing Moscow’s lack of response as a “strange silence.” He emphasized the importance of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s support for the initiative.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Türkiye is resolutely moving toward the goal of completely eliminating the terror problem from the national agenda, marking a significant milestone on the "Terror-Free Türkiye" path.
On May 12, the Baku Military Court resumed hearings in the case against Armenian citizens accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 1993 occupation of Kalbajar.
On May 12, during an official visit to Bahrain, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held talks focused on strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and exchanging views on regional security issues.
India has fired a series of missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory, in what it has described as “Operation Sindoor”
For the first time in history, an American has been chosen to lead the Catholic Church, as Cardinal Robert Prevost is named pope.
A Rafale fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force has reportedly been shot down for the first time in combat, according to sources cited by CNN, marking a significant and symbolic development in the ongoing escalation between India and Pakistan.
Pope Leo XIV made a surprise visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano. AnewZ covered the event, with journalist Maria Rodriguez Abalde on-site. She witnessed the occasion firsthand and documented key moments. More images and footage will be available soon.
The three major Wall Street indexes surged sharply after the announcement of a 90-day tariff reduction agreement between the U.S. and China. The S&P 500 reached its highest levels since early March, boosting investor optimism.
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, has accused Western countries of demanding a 30-day ceasefire to give Ukraine’s military a chance to regroup. Zakharova's remarks highlight the growing tension surrounding the ongoing war and the international calls for temporary peace in orde
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has declared his readiness for direct peace talks with Russia in Turkey, describing Moscow’s lack of response as a “strange silence.” He emphasized the importance of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s support for the initiative.
Latin American leaders deepened ties with China at the China-CELAC Forum in Beijing, highlighting growing economic and strategic cooperation as global power dynamics shift and China expands its influence in the Global South.
A long-awaited reunion is underway as the Red Cross takes custody of Israeli-American Edan Alexander, paving the way for his return home after weeks in Hamas captivity.
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, has accused Western countries of demanding a 30-day ceasefire to give Ukraine’s military a chance to regroup. Zakharova's remarks highlight the growing tension surrounding the ongoing war and the international calls for temporary peace in orde
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has declared his readiness for direct peace talks with Russia in Turkey, describing Moscow’s lack of response as a “strange silence.” He emphasized the importance of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s support for the initiative.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Türkiye is resolutely moving toward the goal of completely eliminating the terror problem from the national agenda, marking a significant milestone on the "Terror-Free Türkiye" path.
On May 12, the Baku Military Court resumed hearings in the case against Armenian citizens accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 1993 occupation of Kalbajar.
On May 12, during an official visit to Bahrain, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held talks focused on strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and exchanging views on regional security issues.
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