{"id":272434,"date":"2020-10-21T03:32:54","date_gmt":"2020-10-21T07:32:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=272434"},"modified":"2020-10-21T03:32:54","modified_gmt":"2020-10-21T07:32:54","slug":"the-us-is-taking-on-google-in-a-huge-antitrust-case-it-could-change-the-face-of-online-search","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2020\/10\/21\/the-us-is-taking-on-google-in-a-huge-antitrust-case-it-could-change-the-face-of-online-search\/","title":{"rendered":"The US is taking on Google in a huge antitrust case. It could change the face of online search"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Google provides services that are hugely valued the world over \u2014 and with no direct financial cost to the user. (File photo: @mitchel3uo\/Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google<\/a> for unlawful monopolisation. The department says Google\u2019s conduct harms competition and consumers, and reduces the ability of new innovative companies to develop and compete.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the most important monopolisation case in the US since 1998, when the DoJ brought proceedings against Microsoft<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible the current proceedings, given their timing, are politically motivated. US President Donald Trump and other Republicans have repeatedly voiced<\/a> the view<\/a> that Google is prejudiced against conservative beliefs.<\/p>\n

But even if Democratic candidate Joe Biden is elected president, this action against Google is unlikely to go away.<\/p>\n

The ramifications for Google, if the court rules against it, could ultimately be dramatic. The DoJ\u2019s associate deputy attorney general, Ryan Shores, has refused to rule out seeking orders to break up the tech giant, saying<\/a> \u201cnothing is off the table\u201d.<\/p>\n

Google\u2019s monopoly power<\/h2>\n

Google\u2019s economic power is no secret. Regulators around the world, including in the European Union, are investigating the company\u2019s conduct and bringing actions under competition, consumer and privacy laws.<\/p>\n

US Attorney General William Barr said the new DoJ action:<\/p>\n

[\u2026] strikes at the heart of Google\u2019s grip over the internet for millions of American consumers, advertisers, small businesses and entrepreneurs beholden to an unlawful monopolist.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Specifically, the DoJ claims Google is illegally monopolising the markets<\/a> for online search and search advertising (the advertising that appears alongside search results).<\/p>\n

According to the DoJ, Google\u2019s US market share is roughly:<\/p>\n