A US court has decided that Google illegally dominated the search engine market. In a complete 286-page order, the court found that Google paid a huge $26 billion to smartphone manufacturers and web browsers to make sure its search engine was set as the default option. 

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This practice, the court said, unfairly prevented other search engines from competing for users.

While the court ruled that Google does not monopolize all search advertising, acknowledging that competitors like Amazon and Walmart are selling ads linked to searches on their platforms, it confirmed Google’s dominance over text ads at the top of search results.

This order represents one of the most significant legal victories against a tech giant over two decades. Although specific remedies are yet to be determined, one potential change could involve offering US Android users the option to select their preferred search engine when setting up new devices.

Further remedies might include separating Google’s search operations from its other businesses, such as Android and Chrome. Such a move would be the most substantial forced breakup of a US corporation since the 1984 dismantling of AT&T, which led to the formation of smaller regional phone companies.

The court’s findings highlighted that Google’s payments to companies like Samsung and Apple to make its search engine the default significantly increased its market share, which grew from 80% in 2009 to 90% by 2020. Google has announced plans to appeal the ruling, asserting that its success is due to consumer preference for its products.

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