Google hit by landmark competition lawsuit in US over search

The US government has filed charges against Google, accusing the company of violating competition law to preserve its monopoly over internet searches and online advertising. The lawsuit marks the biggest challenge brought by US regulators against a major tech company in years. It follows more than a year of investigation and comes as the biggest tech firms face intense scrutiny of their practices at home and abroad. Google called the case "deeply flawed". Read the full article via the BBC. 

Google antitrust case suggests Apple should be in the Department of Justice’s crosshairs too

Google’s payments to Apple to promote its search engine in iPhones, iPads and Mac computers are at the centre of the Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit against the tech giant. The suit alleges this creates a “continuous and self-reinforcing cycle of monopolisation” by limiting which search engines consumers can use. But as someone who studies platform markets, competition and industry structure, I believe the agreement seems more like a damning indictment of Apple’s own potentially illegal business practices. Read the full article via The Conversation. 

The Google antitrust case is more about politics than economics

It’s easy enough to find information on what the US Department of Justice is doing with its antitrust suit against Google. What is more difficult to discover is the underlying issue being argued over. That is, why is what’s being done, being done? The short answer is that there’s an argument over what the definition of “harm” is. Read the full article via ComputerWeekly.com. 

Domino effect: Google antitrust case could spell trouble for other tech giants

For Gabriel Weinberg, CEO of the private search engine DuckDuckGo, Google’s market dominance presents the ultimate frustration: He believes not only that his product is remarkably similar in quality but also that it actually prioritises the privacy and best interests of its users. Read the full article via Fortune. 

How the Google case could play out as epic court battle begins

The Google hearing, in federal court in Washington, marks the first time attorneys for Google and the government will come together to start mapping out the the litigation process. It will set the stage for what’s shaping up to be a drawn-out court battle that could ultimately weaken Google’s gatekeeper position over the web if the government is successful. Read the full article via Bloomberg Law.Â