• WEATHER: Hurricane Milton to batter Florida (Graphic DUE Oct 7, 14:00GMT)
  • CONFLICT: Israel intensifies Lebanon attacks (Illustration DUE Oct 7, 15:00GMT)
  • For full details of graphics available/in preparation, see Menu -> Planners
News Sport
Google guilty of illegal monopoly infographic
Graphic charts Google’s online search dominance.
GN46165EN
EN NL AR ES PT

BUSINESS

U.S. judge finds Google runs illegal search monopoly

By Ninian Carter

August 6, 2024 - A U.S. judge rules that Google spends billions of dollars a year to run an illegal monopoly on online searches, leading to its dominance in hugely profitable online advertising.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta has ruled that Google violated antitrust laws, spending billions of dollars to crush its competition and maintain a monopoly on online search and its related advertising earnings.

The judge commented that Google spent $26 billion in 2021 alone to ensure that its search engine was the default on smartphones and browsers.

The landmark decision is a major blow to Alphabet, Google’s parent company, and could change the landscape for online advertising businesses.

Globally, Google controls 91% of online searches on desktop, mobile, tablet and console. It’s nearest rival, bing, controls a paltry 3.4% of the market.

Alphabet says it intends to appeal Mehta’s ruling.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 06/08/2024; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Getty Images
Advertisement