Google’s antitrust hearing continues with juicy details
The landmark antitrust case against Google by the Justice Department is nearly two months in and continues to reveal eye-opening information about the inner workings of the tech giant. Recent revelations include information about lucrative search queries, revenue-sharing agreements, and a complaint from Expedia, as well as details about how Google tries to enhance search quality in Europe. The outcome of the case could have a ripple effect on other Big Tech cases, including those involving Amazon, Apple, and Facebook.
Throughout the trial, the government has argued that Google engages in anticompetitive behavior to block out potential competitors from accessing critical data, thus maintaining its monopoly power. If the judge rules against Google, the company may have to change its behavior and share its application programming interfaces (APIs) with third-party developers. It may also be banned from making anticompetitive and exclusive deals with smartphone and computer manufacturers and wireless carriers. Additionally, Google may be required to turn over its collected data to other search engines.
The recent court proceedings also revealed that Google makes billions of dollars from search queries like “iPhone 8” and “car insurance.” The company has revenue-share agreements with smartphone manufacturers and wireless carriers, requiring them to install Google search and Chrome as defaults, among other Google apps. In addition, Expedia complained about the increasing number of ads displayed in search results and the expensive advertising payments.
Furthermore, the trial brought to light that Google took steps to enhance its search engine quality in the European Union after being hit with an antitrust fine. The company also made improvements to its search results in France and Germany, offering more local content to incentivize users to click on Google’s home screen. Mozilla CEO Mitchell Baker even provided a defense of Google’s search quality, sharing how Mozilla experienced a decline in users when it switched Firefox’s default search engine from Google to Yahoo.
In conclusion, the ongoing antitrust case against Google is shedding light on various aspects of the company’s operations, and the verdict of the case is expected to have far-reaching implications for the tech industry.