The article discusses recent significant antitrust losses for Google. Two federal judges ruled that Google acted illegally to maintain monopolies in online advertising technology and online search.
Experts state that two such substantial antitrust wins against a single company in such a short time frame appear unprecedented. The rulings are seen as a serious threat to Google’s business model.
These decisions are part of a larger wave of antitrust cases against major tech companies. The article mentions a concurrent FTC lawsuit against Meta, alleging an illegal monopoly in social media due to the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.
The article highlights that while tech companies have often viewed antitrust scrutiny as a minor inconvenience, these rulings demonstrate a shift in the balance of power. The slow pace of legal processes contrasted with the rapid pace of technological advancements has been seen as beneficial to large tech companies. However, these recent events indicate that this dynamic is changing.