A U.S. judge just dropped a bombshell: Google illegally monopolized the search engine market by spending billions to become the default option worldwide. This landmark ruling – the first major U.S. legal blow against Big Tech dominance – could force Google’s parent company Alphabet to break up 🔨.
🔎 How Google Played the Game
Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C., declared Google controls 90% of online searches and 95% of mobile searches. Why does that matter? When’s the last time you didn’t \"just Google it\"? 🌐 The company now faces a \"remedy phase\" that might rewrite internet rules – think fewer default search settings on phones and browsers.
💸 Ripple Effects for Investors & Tech
Alphabet shares tumbled 4.5% after the verdict. With 77% of Alphabet’s $307B revenue coming from Google ads in 2023, any breakup could send shockwaves through Silicon Valley 💥. Legal battles might drag into 2026, but the message is clear: regulators are coming for Big Tech’s playbooks.
\"Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one.\" – U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta
Google plans to appeal, arguing the ruling ignores that people choose their search engines. But with Apple and Samsung potentially losing sweetheart deals to pre-install Google Search, your next iPhone might look different 📱.
