In a significant legal showdown, Google faces a three-week hearing starting Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to clarify the implications of a federal judge's ruling that the company operates an illegal monopoly in online search. Judge Amit P. Mehta will hear testimony from various stakeholders, including Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai, as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) seeks major penalties against the $1.9 trillion tech giant.
Last summer, Judge Mehta ruled that Google maintained its dominance through anti-competitive practices, including paying major companies like Apple and Samsung for default placement of its search engine. The DOJ is calling for severe measures, including the forced sale of Google’s Chrome browser and sharing of search data with competitors.
“Nothing less than the future of the internet is at stake here,” said Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater, emphasizing the urgency of the DOJ's requests.
As antitrust scrutiny intensifies, Google’s ability to compete in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence is increasingly at risk. The case, originating from a 2020 lawsuit, represents a critical juncture for the tech giant amidst rising competition from companies like OpenAI and Microsoft.
Alara AI: Podcast support
Alara AI'ın derinlemesine sohbet akışıyla gündemi sadece okumayın, dinleyin