What’s next: Judge Brinkema’s decision is expected in the coming months. Meanwhile, Big Tech’s regulatory battles are escalating:
The DOJ has sued Apple over antitrust issues.
The FTC has ongoing cases against Amazon and Meta for allegedly crushing competition.
What they’re saying:
Mr. Teitelbaum (DOJ): Google tied its tools to enrich itself, “killing off” potential challengers to its dominance.
Ms. Dunn (Google): The government’s case “simply does not hold up,” highlighting price drops and quality improvements in ad tech under Google.
Bottom line. The ruling could deal a major blow to Google, but it also has the potential to redefine how courts approach tech monopolies in the digital age.
However, this blow to Google could also lead to a blow to users if not done correctly. Industry experts already raised major concerns off the back of a possible Chrome sale:
Another company will just fill the monopoly hole Google vacates.
A more challenging landscape for advertisers.
Another case where government decisions lead to less innovation and more complexity.