The high-profile antitrust trial between Google and the US Justice Department has concluded its closing arguments. At the heart of the case is whether Google has unlawfully monopolized web search and related advertising markets. US District Judge Amit Mehta, who presided over the trial, questioned both parties extensively about the substitutability of platforms like ByteDance’s TikTok and Meta’s Facebook and Instagram for search advertising. He must now decide if Google’s practices have breached civil antitrust laws.
Government lawyer David Dahlquist argued that Google’s dominance in advertising revenue underpins its monopolistic power, allowing it to increase prices without improving products. He asserted that Google’s substantial market share and annual payments to ensure its search engine remains the default on devices demonstrate its anti-competitive behavior. In contrast, Google’s defense, led by John Schmidtlein, claimed that the company faces significant competition from other digital advertising platforms. Schmidtlein emphasized that Google’s market share has declined and that the company continues to innovate to stay competitive.
Judge Mehta also scrutinized Google’s data retention policies, particularly the destruction of internal documents relevant to the lawsuit. The government contends that these actions were deliberate, aiming to eliminate evidence unfavorable to Google. In defense, Google’s attorney, Colette Connor, argued that their data preservation practices were reasonable and that no sanctions should be imposed.
The outcome of this trial could lead to significant changes in Google’s business practices and set precedents for future antitrust cases against major tech companies. This case, initiated during the Trump administration, is one of several efforts to curb the market power of tech giants, with ongoing investigations and trials involving Meta, Amazon, and Apple under the Biden administration.
