United States v. Google LLC (Search)

General search is where Google earns most of its money through ads tied to queries. Being the default on a phone or browser sends enormous traffic without users actively choosing each time.

The Department of Justice argued Google locked up those defaults with long contracts and revenue sharing—especially with Apple—so competitors could not reach the scale needed to improve their products.

Google responded that people choose Google because it is better, that defaults are easy to change, and that competition from Apple and others keeps it honest.

After a lengthy trial, a federal judge ruled Google unlawfully maintained monopoly power in general search through its distribution agreements. In September 2025 the court issued a remedy order: limits on exclusive defaults and data-sharing duties, but no Chrome or Android breakup.

Default settings powerfully shape tech habits even when switching is technically possible.

The case is the biggest US monopolization trial against a tech giant since Microsoft in the 1990s.

Remedies could affect how phones and browsers set search engines worldwide.

Google has monopoly power in general search and search text ads.

Exclusive and de facto exclusive default deals foreclosed rivals from user access.

Google's conduct was exclusionary, not just successful competition on quality.

Google says it competes on merit and invests heavily in search quality.

It argues users can change defaults in a few taps and often prefer Google anyway.

Google warns drastic remedies could harm Android partners and innovation.

Your phone's default search engine may still be a business deal, but exclusive lock-ups are now constrained by the 2025 order.

Setup screens and data-sharing duties may make it easier to try rival search engines.

Appeals can still tweak the order; Chrome and Android were not spun off.