Google stands as arguably the most triumphant tech company the world has ever seen. Its influence over more than half of US businesses is staggering, given that search rankings essentially dictate how much traffic and revenue an organization can expect. With roughly 90% of all American search results flowing through its platform, Google has positioned itself as what many consider the Internet's ultimate gatekeeper.
Yet this dominance hasn't gone unquestioned. Several influential voices have spoken out about Google's censoring practices, arguing that these policies undermine fair competition and disadvantage rival companies.
This mounting pressure culminated in the US Justice Department filing suit against Google on October 20, 2020, targeting the tech giant's monopolistic grip on search engine advertising.
The Lawsuit
Leading the charge was US Attorney General William Barr, who spearheaded the US Justice Department's legal action against the search behemoth. Barr's central claim painted Google as the Internet's gatekeeper — one that wielded anticompetitive tactics to stifle rivals and prop up certain monopolies. At the heart of the case lay allegations that Google was suppressing speech, enabling the proliferation of fake news, and inflicting harm on the American economy.
The legal effort brought together Attorney Generals from 12 states: Georgia, Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Montana, Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, and Florida.
One particularly pointed argument from the legal team highlighted an irony — Google had once been vocal in criticizing Microsoft for anticompetitive behavior, yet now stood accused of employing the very same playbook. The company's alleged practices drew direct comparisons to Microsoft's conduct in 1998 and AT&T's in 1974. Adding another layer, lawyers noted that Google's professional teams are specifically trained to steer clear of language like "to crash" or "kill" competition, deliberately avoiding echoes of Microsoft's notorious rhetoric.
Beyond that, the legal team contended that Google effectively blocks users from reaching alternative search engines unless they first navigate past Google's position as the default browser engine.
Donald Trump, Billy Sanders, and fellow conservative politicians threw their weight behind the US Justice Department's move, rallying around the assertion that the company had grown "too powerful."
Google was no stranger to courtroom battles, either. Back in 2018, European regulators had taken the company to task over similar concerns, ultimately slapping Google with a $9 billion fine.
Google's Response
Google, for its part, refused to take the accusations lying down. Speaking through their public policy Twitter account, company stakeholders pushed back, insisting that people choose to use Google of their own free will and face no coercion. Industry experts have predicted the legal battle could drag on for decades, citing Google's massive revenue reserves and its deep connections in Washington.
Indeed, any resolution to the US Justice Department's case against Google appears far off on the horizon. The company reportedly maintains powerful political ties in Washington and sits atop a jaw-dropping $120 billion war chest.