Google and US DOJ deliver closing arguments in Search antitrust case

After nearly five years of legal battles, Google and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) have presented their closing arguments in the historic antitrust case that could reshape the future of online search. The case, which began in 2020, centers on allegations that Google unlawfully maintained a monopoly in the search engine and digital advertising markets through anticompetitive practices.

The DOJ’s case has focused on Google’s multibillion-dollar agreements with smartphone makers and browser developers—most notably Apple—to set Google as the default search engine on new devices. According to court documents, Google paid $26.3 billion in 2021 alone to secure these default placements, ensuring that the vast majority of US search queries—about 80%—go through Google-owned channels. The DOJ argues that these deals stifle competition and reinforce Google’s dominance, making it nearly impossible for rivals to gain meaningful market share.

In response, Google has consistently maintained that its success is the result of superior products and that users are free to change their default search settings at any time. However, the DOJ presented evidence showing that very few users actually do so, a fact that Google itself is well aware of.

As the case entered its remedies phase earlier this year, the DOJ called for sweeping changes. These include forcing Google to sell its Chrome browser, ending its lucrative payments to Apple and other partners, and sharing valuable search data with competitors. The government argues that such measures are necessary to restore competition and open the market to new entrants, including AI-powered search startups.

Google has pushed back vigorously, arguing that the DOJ’s proposals are excessive and go far beyond established legal precedent. The company has offered to scale back exclusive agreements and establish an oversight committee, but insists that divesting Chrome or sharing core search technology would harm innovation and consumer privacy.

The case has also taken on new urgency with the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Both sides debated how AI will reshape the search landscape, with the DOJ seeking to prevent Google from locking in exclusive deals for its AI tools, and Google arguing that the market is already being disrupted by AI-driven competitors. Judge Amit Mehta, who is overseeing the trial, acknowledged the transformative potential of AI but remains undecided on how much weight it should carry in his final ruling.

A decision is expected by August, and the outcome could have far-reaching implications for the tech industry, digital advertising, and the broader internet ecosystem.