Early October of 2023 marked a historic moment for high-stakes trials capturing the public’s attention. While the media frenzy surrounding the ongoing trial involving former President Donald Trump and his companies continues, another massive trial with the potential to reshape American society is quietly underway. The trial involves the Justice Department accusing Google of maintaining an illegal monopoly over the internet search market, marking the first major monopoly case in decades.
Amidst the chaos surrounding the Trump trial and the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange FTX, one cannot help but recognize the significance of this case. However, it seems to have slipped under the radar, overshadowed by other headline-grabbing stories. This trial holds the power to meaningfully impact the direction of American society and deserves our attention.
The crux of the government’s case against Google revolves around allegations of the company’s anti-competitive practices. Google, armed with a legion of highly compensated lawyers, touts the notion that its overwhelming market dominance is a result of consumer preference. They argue that users have the choice to switch to any other search engine. However, the government’s evidence reveals intricate deals within Silicon Valley that enabled Google to maintain its stronghold and potentially stifle competition.
The uniqueness of this case lies in the fact that traditional monopoly allegations often revolve around overcharging consumers or offering inferior products. In the case of Google, their search engine is free and generally delivers reliable results. Nevertheless, history has shown that regardless of the medium of commerce, monopolies can have detrimental effects on the American people.
In a bipartisan move, this antitrust case was initially filed three years ago during Donald Trump’s presidency, under the supervision of his Attorney General, William Barr. The current Biden administration has continued the pursuit of cracking down on monopolies, evident in the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) aggressive stance on antitrust issues under Attorney General Merrick Garland.
While the outcome of any litigation is never certain, a brief analysis of the facts can often provide insight into a potential fair outcome. Consider the power that Google wields over competitors and ask yourself whether it seems justifiable. This exercise may offer you a glimpse into the potential results of this trial.
The Google antitrust trial is expected to continue for approximately seven more weeks. Once a decision is reached, we will gain a better understanding of whether a dominant internet giant like Google can be held accountable and constrained.
Market Capital Research 