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Google Violated Antitrust Laws with $26 Billion Payments, Judge Rules Under Section 2 of Sherman Act

Aug 5, 2024, 07:58 PM

A federal judge has ruled that Google violated U.S. antitrust laws by maintaining an illegal monopoly in the search and online advertising markets. Judge Amit Mehta found that Google's payments, totaling $26 billion, to make its search engine the default on smartphone web browsers effectively blocked competitors from succeeding. This ruling marks a significant victory for the U.S. Department of Justice in its efforts to curb the market dominance of Big Tech companies. The decision could fundamentally alter how Google operates and reshape the way millions of Americans access information online. Google has stated its intention to appeal the ruling. The judge ruled that Google violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act.