Google Loses DOJ Antitrust Suit Over Search Practices, $26 Billion Payments Violated Sherman Act

Aug 5, 2024, 06:52 PM

Google has lost a significant antitrust lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over its search business. A federal judge ruled that Google violated antitrust laws by maintaining its monopoly over general search and engaging in anticompetitive practices. Specifically, Judge Amit Mehta found that Google's $26 billion in payments to make its search engine the default on smartphone web browsers effectively blocked competitors from succeeding in the market. The ruling cited violations of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. This ruling marks a major victory for the DOJ in its efforts to regulate big tech companies and curb monopolistic practices.