Google Antitrust Ruling: Judge Pushes DOJ to Define Penalties by End of Year

A federal judge told the US Department of Justice to suggest penalties for Google by the end of the year. Google was found guilty of unfairly using its power in the search market. The case will continue in 2025, when the DOJ will decide how to punish Google.

The ruling came from Judge Amit Mehta after calling Google a "monopolist" last month.

Google Antitrust Case

Google allegedly controlled the search market to block others from competing fairly. The court must decide how to stop Google from continuing this behavior.

In the Friday (September 6) hearing, lawyers from both the DOJ and Google couldn't agree on a timeline for when the punishment phase should start.

Instead, Judge Mehta gave them a deadline to figure it out. He also set a date for when the DOJ has to present its case, aiming for a final decision by Labor Day next year, said KDKA.

The DOJ needs more time to study how Google uses new technology, like AI, in search results. This is important because AI could make it harder for other companies to compete. Google's punishment might include ending deals with companies like Apple and Samsung, who are paid to make Google the default search engine on their devices.

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Google Faces Major Penalties

Every year, Google reportedly pays over $25 billion for these deals. If the DOJ ends these agreements, other search engines could have a better chance to compete.

Another option is forcing Google to sell off some of its business. The DOJ might ask Google to separate from its Chrome web browser or Android smartphone software, which is vital to keeping Google on top of the search engine market.

Since the government went after Microsoft in the late 1990s, Google's case has been one of the biggest battles against a tech company. Back then, Microsoft was accused of using its power unfairly in the software market. That case helped make the tech market more open to competition, according to NBC News.

Google's lawyers are expected to argue for smaller punishments, saying that big changes are unnecessary and might be political. Judge Mehta gave both sides until September 13 to develop a timeline for the next steps. The DOJ must have a plan on how they want to punish Google by then. The final decision will likely come by next fall.

This case is a big step in the government's attempt to control big tech companies. Although Apple and Facebook have faced similar complaints, Google is the first to go to trial.