Google is entering the final phase of its antitrust trial brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Google is reportedly back in court on Monday for the final phase of a landmark antitrust case that may result in its breakup.
The FTC has been actively involved in antitrust scrutiny of Google, particularly focusing on its dominance in digital advertising and app distribution. One key case involved the Google Play Store, where a jury found that Google had used anticompetitive practices to maintain its monopoly. Following this, the FTC urged the court to impose tough penalties to restore competition and prevent further abuse.
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Although the Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken the lead on broader cases, such as the major 2023 trial over Google’s search engine monopoly, the FTC’s actions have been crucial in addressing how Google handles competition on its platforms. The DOJ lawsuit accused Google of making exclusive deals—like paying Apple to be the default search engine on iPhones—to block rivals and cement its dominance.
“People don’t use Google because they have to — they use it because they want to,” Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president for Regulatory Affairs, said in a statement in December, 2024.
Globally, Google is facing similar legal challenges. In the UK, the company is being sued for £5 billion for allegedly shutting out competition and overcharging advertisers.
These legal battles could reshape Google’s business model, potentially leading to stricter regulations or a breakup of its core operations. If successful, these cases may open the digital market to new competitors and change how big tech companies operate in the future.
The government is reportedly of the stance that the judge should order Google to stop making third-party payments to phone makers like Apple that ensure its default search position. They also call for Google to spin off its Chrome web browser and possibly to sell its Android smartphone operating system.
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The growing number of antitrust lawsuits signals a turning point for Google. If courts rule against the company, it could face major operational changes, including restrictions on exclusive deals and possibly even structural breakups of its core businesses like search and advertising. These cases challenge Google’s long-standing dominance and could lead to increased regulatory oversight and reduced market power. In the long term, this may force Google to adopt more transparent and competitive practices, paving the way for innovation and competition in the tech industry. It also sets a precedent for how governments handle Big Tech moving forward.