Tech Giants: Should They Be Dismantled or Let Alone?

Tech Giants: Should They Be Dismantled or Let Alone?

In early September 2021, a US District Court judge ruled in favour of Google in an antitrust lawsuit filed by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and several states. The verdict, however, was not a complete victory for Google as it faced restrictions and criticism from various quarters.

The judge's decision came amidst growing concerns about Google's dominance in the online search and advertising industries. The tech giant, which accounts for 90% of all search queries in America, was found to have used anticompetitive tactics to retain and grow its monopolies.

The lawsuit accused Google of unfairly excluding rivals from the search engine market by making exclusive contracts with manufacturers like Apple and Samsung. However, no states have been reported to have formally complained against Judge Amit Mehta's ruling in September 2025.

The emergence of AI has made Judge Mehta reluctant to intervene heavily in the case, as companies like OpenAI have made Google defensive. Despite this, the judge prohibited Google from entering into or upholding exclusive distribution agreements for its products like Chrome, Google Assistant, and the Gemini app.

The judge also ordered Google to share data from its search engine with its competitors, a move that could potentially level the playing field. Google, however, has stated that it intends to appeal the verdict, and some states may also file an appeal.

The verdict did not establish a precedent for retrenching Google's supremacy, contrary to some claims. Critics like Tim Wu and Zephyr Teachout argue that monopolies like Google, Facebook, and Bayer are undermining American democracy. Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, compared the court verdict to a defendant robbing banks and being sentenced to probation, allowing them to continue robbing but share data with competitors.

Massachusetts' Senator Elizabeth Warren referred to the verdict as a "slap on the wrist" for unlawful behavior that warranted the breakup of the tech giant. Teachout's book "Break 'Em Up" advocates for breaking up monopolies, with a foreword by Bernie Sanders. Many trustbusters have urged to "break" Google's monopolistic practices to restore meaningful competition.

The DOJ made its filing during Trump's first term, and the case was persisted with under Biden's administration. The emergence of excessive corporate power, as demonstrated by Google's case, has historically led to the rise of populism, nationalism, radical politicians, and fascist governments.

Despite the restrictions imposed by the court, Google was allowed to compensate distributors like Apple and Mozilla for using Google as the default search engine in their respective browsers. Phone makers are now allowed to promote other search engines, a move that could potentially challenge Google's dominance in the future.

The verdict, while not a complete victory for the DOJ, marks a step towards ensuring fair competition in the tech industry. The case serves as a reminder of the need for regulation to prevent monopolies from undermining democratic institutions and stifling innovation.

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