A US judge has allowed an antitrust case against Google to proceed, ruling against the tech giant’s motion to dismiss. The case is based on allegations that Google is using its dominance in search to disadvantage competitors in the online advertising market. The lawsuit was brought by a group of US states and is separate from other antitrust cases against Google currently underway in the US. The ruling means that the case will now proceed to trial, which is expected to take place in late 2023 or early 2024.
The case centres around Google’s alleged anticompetitive practices in the online advertising market. The plaintiffs argue that Google uses its dominant position in search to favour its own advertising products, while disadvantaging competitors. They also allege that Google’s contracts with device manufacturers and mobile carriers stifle competition.
Google had sought to have the case dismissed, arguing that the plaintiffs had failed to demonstrate that its practices had caused harm to competition or consumers. However, US District Judge James Boasberg rejected this argument, writing in his ruling that the plaintiffs had “plausibly alleged that Google’s challenged conduct has had an anticompetitive effect.”
This is the latest legal challenge to Google’s dominance in the tech industry. The company is currently facing several antitrust cases in the US and Europe, as well as regulatory scrutiny over issues such as data privacy and content moderation.
