Google Violate Anti-Trust Laws:
On August 5, US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google violated antitrust laws by maintaining a monopoly in “general search services” and “search text ads” through exclusive deals with companies like Apple and Samsung.
- Antitrust laws and regulations are designed to promote fair competition and prevent anti-competitive practices in the marketplace.
- “Anti-trust” issues refer to situations where companies or organizations engage in activities that hinder competition, limit consumer choice, or create monopolies or dominant market positions.
- Google violated antitrust laws by maintaining its search engine monopoly through exclusive agreements. Google invests over USD 26 billion annually to maintain its default search status, holding over 89% share in general search and about 95% on mobile.
- It paid billions to companies like Apple and Samsung to ensure Google was the default search engine on their devices and browsers.
- This practice prevented competitors from gaining market share and stifled competition in search and advertising markets.
- In India, the Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) has accused Google of stifling competition and harming businesses, highlighting concerns over Google’s Privacy Sandbox initiative.
