Judge Confirms Google Violated Antitrust Law by Monopolizing Online Search

WASHINGTON – Open Markets Institute Executive Director Barry Lynn released the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that Google has violated the Sherman Act by illegally maintaining its monopoly in general online search and search text advertising.  

“The Google Search ruling was a long time coming and is a historic win for our antitrust enforcers and internet users everywhere. The Justice Department brings Google back to court in September for its monopoly over search advertising markets and we expect to see similar results. 

“Google has built and used its dominance across the web to control and torpedo competitors and stifle innovation and choice in the search engine and search advertising markets. Finally, our regulators and courts are holding Google to account for years of antitrust violations that have enabled the company to amass near-total control over the ways in which we share reliable news and information. 

“If we continue to rebuild our antitrust authorities, take bold action in the courts, and enforce existing rules designed to protect fair competition, we can begin to turn back the harms Big Tech’s control over our communications systems have brought on our democracies and prevent further harm in the next phase of technological change with AI.” 

Center for Journalism and Liberty at Open Markets Director Dr. Courtney Radsch weighed in with the following statement:  

"This ruling underscores just how uneven the playing field for news publishers is, and why legislation like California's AB 886 and the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act is needed to fight back against these information monopolies. Google's threats to censor journalism and prevent news publishers from accessing its monopoly must be met with swift and decisive action from all those who care about a free press and democracy."

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