On August 5, 2024, US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google holds an illegal monopoly in general search services and search text advertising, a landmark decision in the US Department of Justice's antitrust case. The ruling, based on evidence from a trial that concluded in November 2023, found that Google violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act by maintaining its monopoly through exclusive distribution agreements.
Following the liability ruling, a remedies phase began. In September 2025, Judge Mehta issued a decision on remedies, and a final judgment was entered on October 7, 2025. The remedies include requiring Google to end exclusive agreements with device makers and browsers, and to allow users to choose default search engines. These measures are designed to foster competition, even if Google remains the dominant player.
Legal experts note that the remedies focus on changing Google's business practices rather than breaking up the company. The goal is to lower barriers to entry for rivals like Microsoft's Bing or DuckDuckGo. Google has appealed the ruling, and the case is pending before the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
The outcome of this case could reshape the digital advertising market, which generates hundreds of billions of dollars annually. The Department of Justice has argued that Google's monopoly has stifled innovation and harmed consumers, while Google maintains that its services are superior and that users choose them voluntarily.
