US Court Rules Google Holds Illegal Search Monopoly, Google Plans Appeal

Google is appealing a significant U.S. federal court ruling that found it illegally monopolized the search engine market by using exclusive agreements with browsers and device manufacturers to block competition. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, proposes drastic remedies including potentially forcing Google to divest its Chrome browser and share user data with competitors, measures Google argues would harm consumers and risk user privacy. To bolster its appeal, Google has hired Donald Verrilli Jr., former U.S. solicitor general under President Obama, signaling a strong legal defense against the Department of Justice's antitrust case. The case's outcome is viewed as a pivotal moment not only for search engine competition but also for the future of artificial intelligence innovation, as weakening Google's control could spur new entrants in the AI market. Google maintains that the DOJ has failed to prove harm to competition, and it is loosening some agreements to include rival apps, but it strongly opposes the DOJ's proposed remedies. The dispute highlights the broader crackdown on Big Tech's dominance and comes as Google simultaneously navigates critical technological shifts toward AI.