Navigating Antitrust in Tech: The Google Case

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This chapter explores the complexities of U.S. antitrust laws as they apply to major tech companies, particularly Google. It reviews historical cases, the implications of Google's monopolistic practices in advertising, and compares current regulatory challenges to past antitrust actions against Microsoft. The discussion emphasizes the evolving nature of monopoly concerns in the tech industry and the challenges faced by authorities in maintaining competitive markets.

Paris Marx is joined by Rob Larson to discuss the recent ruling that Google is a monopolist, what consequences it might face, and what lessons we can learn from the Microsoft antitrust case in the early 2000s.

Rob Larson is the author of Mastering the Universe: The Obscene Wealth of the Ruling Class, What They Do with Their Money, and Why You Should Hate Them Even More and Professor of Economics at Tacoma Community College.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Rob has written about the Google antitrust case and its likely outcomes.
Paris also wrote about why it won’t solve the problems with the internet.
Watch a highlight reel of Bill Gates' deposition on YouTube.
Google has been deemed to have an illegal monopoly in online search.
A second trial over Google’s monopolistic position in the online ads market is ongoing.
The Obama administration let Google off the hook a decade ago.
Some tech billionaire donors are pushing Kamala Harris to remove Lina Khan as head of the Federal Trade Commission if she becomes president.