Policy Backgrounders

U.S. v. Google Decision

August 08, 2024

Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead^®

After a long trial featuring many expert witnesses from the tech industry, US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that “Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly [.]” Google thus violated Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

• The case will now enter a penalty phase considering a variety of potential remedies. A decision in that phase could take up to several years, limiting the immediate impact on Google.
• In the meantime, Google faces additional antitrust suits in the US and Europe and the possibility of class-action suits filed in response to the decision.
• However, the decision also ruled in favor of Google in some key areas.