In a landmark legal decision, Google has lost an antitrust case against the US Department of Justice (DOJ). The ruling, handed down by US District Judge Amit Mehta, determined that Google had unlawfully maintained its dominance in the web search and advertising markets by securing exclusive agreements with major device manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung. On August 1, Judge Mehta officially labeled Google a monopolist, ruling that the tech giant had abused its market dominance in online search. This 277-page judgment is a pivotal moment in antitrust law and could significantly alter the operations of major technology companies.
In India, Google is also facing accusations of anti-competitive behavior. Earlier this week, the Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) filed a complaint alleging that Google has engaged in unfair practices within the online advertising sector. The recent US verdict raises questions about how it might influence ongoing legal battles in India.
A critical aspect of Judge Mehta’s ruling is Google’s status as the “default” search engine. Mehta emphasized that this “default distribution” provides Google with a considerable advantage over its competitors. He explained, “Most users access general search engines via a browser (such as Apple’s Safari) or a search widget pre-installed on mobile devices. These search access points are set with a ‘default’ search engine. This default position is highly valuable real estate, as many users continue to use the preset option. Consequently, Google receives billions of queries daily through these default access points.”
However, the ruling is confined to the “relevant geographic market” of the United States, and the situation regarding default browsers in India could lead to different legal outcomes. The implications of this US ruling on India’s ongoing litigation against Google remain to be seen.
