A US judge has ruled that tech giant Google spent billions of dollars to beat competition in order to become world's default search engine.
According to the 277-page ruling, Google controls 89.2% share of the market for general search services and this surges to 94.9% on smartphones.
“The court reaches the following conclusion: Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly,” US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled.
He said that in 2021 alone, parent company Alphabet spent $26.3 billion to ensure that Google is the default search engine on browsers and devices.
Mehta said that even if a new entrant is positioned from a quality standpoint to bid for the default when an agreement expires, such a firm could compete only if it is prepared to pay billions of dollars in revenue share.
The ruling, which was given in a case filed during the Trump administration, now leads to a second trial to determine potential remedial measures including breakup of parent company Alphabet.
Alphabet said it will appeal Mehta's decision, stating that the ruling recognises that Google offers the best search engine but concludes that "we shouldn't be allowed to make it easily available."
US Attorney General Merrick Garland has dubbed the ruling a "historic win for the American people", pointing out the no company is above the law, no matter how gigantic or influential they are.
