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42 BUSINESS & FINANCE AWEMainta Diamars, 17 October 2023
Google’s Antitrust Trial:
Potential Impact on
Potential Impact on
Internet Users
Internet Users
IN the midst of a significant 10-week trial probing Google’s search engine, it’s a cumbersome process that few under-
business practices, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta is yet to take. The Justice Department asserts that this is why Google
determine whether the Justice Department will succeed in is willing to pay enormous sums to secure this advantageous
restraining one of the tech world’s dominant giants. The position. These payments, particularly the billions paid to
trial’s outcome could have profound consequences, shaking Apple, are at the center of the government’s case against
the foundation of a search engine that is synonymous with Google.
the internet for billions of users.
If the judge rules against Google, it’s likely that the remedy
If the judge rules that Google has indeed operated an illegal would require smartphones and web browsers in the U.S.
monopoly in search, this verdict could herald a shift in the to present a variety of search engines during the setup
digital landscape. It might lead to more competitive forces process, a practice already established in Europe. However,
emerging, offering consumers and businesses fresh avenues initial signs from Europe indicate that most users still prefer
for information, entertainment, and commerce. Google. This preference might stem from the belief that
Luther Lowe, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at Yelp, Google offers the best search results, or perhaps it’s the
states that the judge’s decision could prompt Google to trust in Google’s brand that keeps users loyal.
open up to startups and third-party competitors, injecting
more competition and potentially elevating the quality of Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella argued that Google has an
online services. almost hypnotic grip on users, suggesting that altering
the default option is the only way to break this habit. If the
Google’s search engine achieved its colossal market share ruling doesn’t exclude Google’s rivals from paying for the
by delivering rapid, relevant information drawn from the vast automatic search engine position on devices, Microsoft
expanse of websites it has indexed since the late 1990s. could seize the opportunity to make Bing the default search
Google’s dominance is not solely due to its technological engine.
prowess; it also strikes deals worth billions to ensure that
its search engine is the default option on the world’s most In a world where the outcome of this antitrust trial is still
popular smartphones and web browsers. uncertain, the tech and legal communities watch closely to
see what impact it will have on Google’s search dominance
Although users can change their settings to use a different and the internet habits of billions.
