WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. government will lay out its antitrust case against Alphabet’s Google on Friday in a second day of closing arguments focused on accusations that the online search leader broke the law to stay on top in search advertising.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta on Thursday peppered both sides with questions seeking to better understand the case ahead of making a ruling.
The Justice Department has hammered away at Google in a trial that started on Sept. 12, arguing the search engine giant is a monopolist and illegally abused its power to boost profits.
Google and the government’s lawyers will focus on claims against Google’s business contracts. They aim to highlight how these contracts harm competition for search advertising.
Witnesses from Verizon, Android maker Samsung Electronics and Google itself testified about the company’s annual payments – $26.3 billion in 2021 – to ensure that its search is the default on smartphones and browsers, and to keep its dominant market share.
In the courtroom, lawyers meticulously dissect evidence and legal precedents to bolster their respective positions. The intricate dance between prosecution and defense unfolds as they vie for the judge’s favor. Transitioning from evidence to rhetoric, each side leverages persuasive techniques to sway the court’s decision in the Google antitrust trial.
Amidst the legal proceedings, the Google antitrust trial underscores broader concerns about tech industry monopolies.
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