Google is set to face its highly anticipated antitrust trial next week, as the US Justice Department accuses the tech giant of using illegal business deals to solidify the dominance of its search engine. The DOJ has spent three years preparing for this trial since initially accusing Google of eliminating competitors by paying smartphone makers, including Apple and Samsung, billions of dollars to ensure that its search engine is pre-loaded as the default option on their web browsers. In the 2020 lawsuit filed in Washington, DC, the DOJ claims that Google has consistently violated the law in order to remain “the gateway to the internet,” thus gaining an unfair advantage over competitors such as Microsoft’s Bing, Mozilla, and DuckDuckGo.
Google, in response, has argued that its deals with phone makers, including Apple, were not exclusive, as consumers were free to change the default settings on their devices. This upcoming trial, which is expected to last 10 weeks, will be the first major US monopoly trial of the modern internet age. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, along with top executives from Apple and other tech companies, are expected to testify. The trial will involve more than 150 depositions and over 5 million pages of documents.
The DOJ has requested that Google change its allegedly unlawful practices, potentially pay damages, and restructure its businesses. The case will be presided over by Judge Amit P. Mehta, who was appointed by President Barack Obama. There will be no jury, and the judge will issue the final ruling. Both the DOJ and Google have been aggressive in making their cases even before the trial begins. Google recently argued in a court filing that the DOJ’s head of antitrust, Jonathan Kanter, has a bias against the company due to his past work for Google’s rivals. The DOJ, on the other hand, has accused Google of making invasive discovery requests and engaging in selective enforcement of antitrust laws.
This antitrust trial marks a significant moment for Google and its position in the technology industry. Despite already facing challenges, Google maintains that it provides valuable services and helps create more competition and options for users. The outcome of this trial will have far-reaching implications for the future of Google and the broader tech industry.
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