US judge rules Google's online search monopoly is illegal
'Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly,' ruling says
ISTANBUL
A US judge on Monday ruled Google engaged in illegal practices to eliminate its competitors and uphold a monopoly on online search and related advertising.
Judge Amit Mehta said Google breached Section 2 of the Sherman Act, a US antitrust statute.
"After having carefully considered and weighed the witness testimony and evidence, the court reaches the following conclusion: Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly," the judge wrote in 277-page opinion.
The ruling is one of the most significant antitrust decisions in decades, concluding a case that saw the US Department of Justice take on one of the world's most valuable corporations.
In 2020, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Google for its dominance over roughly 90% of the online search market.
It is one of multiple lawsuits brought against major tech companies as US antitrust regulators seek to enhance competition within the industry.
