Judge Amit P. Mehta challenged both the U.S. government and Google during closing arguments in a landmark antitrust case that could reshape the technology industry. The case, which accuses Google of illegally maintaining a monopoly in online search, has been closely watched as a potential precedent for future challenges to tech giants’ power.
During the first day of closing arguments, Judge Mehta questioned the government’s argument that Google’s dominance had negatively impacted the quality of the online search experience. He also pushed back on Google’s defense that it isn’t a monopoly because consumers use other platforms like Amazon and TikTok for different types of searches.
The judge’s ruling, expected in the coming weeks or months, will have far-reaching implications for the tech industry. It will set a precedent for future government challenges to the size and power of tech giants, including Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Google.
Before closing arguments began, the head of the Justice Department’s antitrust division and Google’s president of global affairs were seen chatting in the courtroom. Judge Mehta then questioned the government’s lead lawyer about innovation in search, noting that Google has made significant changes to the search experience over the years.
The Justice Department also argued that Google’s monopoly has led to a lack of privacy protections in its search engine. Judge Mehta raised the question of whether there is a trade-off between privacy and the quality of search, and how to measure if Google has done enough to protect user privacy.
Overall, Judge Mehta’s probing questions during closing arguments indicate that he is carefully considering both sides’ arguments before making a ruling that could have a major impact on the tech industry.
