Post by account_disabled on Feb 20, 2024 5:22:38 GMT -4
The United States Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google this Tuesday , thus kicking off a new legal battle that could last years and could end up causing the creation of new regulations for the technology giants. The complaint accuses the company of maintaining a monopoly on search and Internet search advertising. It maintains that Google has carried out unfair practices to eliminate its competition, such as paying billions to Apple to be the default search engine on its devices. Google is the first major technology company to see an antitrust action of this caliber since the late 90s, in which the United States Government began a battle against Microsoft. It's not just the company accused of a monopoly: Earlier this month, House Democrats concluded a months-long investigation accusing four companies—Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google's own parent company, Alphabet—of maintaining monopolies.
The Justice Department's lawsuit is an important step that could lead to significant changes and knock-on consequences for other companies in the technology industry, such as Apple, Amazon or Facebook . Every company has something to lose. The search engine is essential for Google, and dividing its business and strength in this market could have Middle East Phone Number List an effect on its advertising segment, through which the company obtains the majority of its revenue. The risk for Facebook is losing services like WhatsApp or Instagram . Apple could be forced to lose control of its App Store. Amazon could see its platform for third-party sellers at risk. If Google wins this assault, Apple, Amazon and Facebook could plan to do the same in theirs.
If Google loses, however, lawmakers could be encouraged to go after more tech . "The important thing here is that the government has finally taken the initiative," says Sam Weinstein, a former Justice Department prosecutor and professor at Cardozo Law School. "If I were one of these companies, I would think, OK, this is happening." "If they were already alert before, now they will be very alert," he says. "The Justice Department's lawsuit has many loopholes. If people use Google it is because they choose to do so, not because they are forced or because they cannot find alternatives," defended a Google spokesperson. This is what this case could imply for other large technology companies.