The podcast discusses the upcoming antitrust trial between the US government and Google, Google's dominance in smartphone internet searches, the challenges of breaking up large tech companies, and the birth of Google as the dominant search engine.
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Quick takeaways
The US government accuses Google of maintaining its search dominance through exclusionary practices, potentially denying innovative competitors a chance to gain traction.
The outcome of the antitrust trial against Google is uncertain, but it could result in demands for Google to change its practices or even the potential breakup of the company.
Deep dives
The US government's case against Google
The US government is engaging in a major antitrust trial against Google, accusing the company of unfairly locking out competition and maintaining its search dominance through exclusionary practices. The government claims that Google has made deals with companies like Apple to ensure that it remains the default search engine, preventing potentially more innovative competitors from gaining traction. This trial represents a significant attempt to address the power of big tech companies and determine if Google's dominance qualifies as a monopoly.
Google's defense and potential outcome
Google contends that it provides the best service and that people actively choose Google over other options. While it acknowledges the default agreements in place, it argues that users can easily select alternative search engines. However, if the government prevails in the case, it could demand that Google stops such practices, such as making deals to become the default search engine. In extreme cases, the government could even push for breaking up the company, although this outcome appears less likely. The outcome of the trial is uncertain, but winning an antitrust case can be challenging, particularly when the concept of harm to consumers in a free digital environment is not easily proven.
Comparisons to Microsoft's antitrust case
The trial against Google draws parallels to the antitrust case against Microsoft in the 1990s. Microsoft was accused of anti-competitive behavior and attempting to maintain its monopoly in the personal computer operating systems and internet browser markets. While Microsoft was found to be acting anti-competitively, the ultimate remedies did not include breaking up the company. The Microsoft case serves as a precedent for evaluating the potential outcomes of the Google trial. It remains to be seen whether the trial's outcome will lead to lasting changes in Google's behavior or if it will merely result in temporary adjustments before the industry consolidates again.
Google is headed to court over allegations its search engine violates federal antitrust law. The Verge’s Adi Robertson breaks down the case, and David Pierce explains how Google Search came to rule the internet.
This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
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