Judge Orders Google to Share Search Data, Rejects Breakup

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1 day ago

Above: A sign outside Google offices. Image copyright: Unsplash

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

This ruling strikes the right balance between addressing competitive concerns and avoiding market disruption that could harm consumers and innovation. Breaking up successful American tech companies would weaken our global competitiveness against foreign rivals and destroy value for millions of shareholders and pension funds. The judge wisely recognized that AI has fundamentally changed the search landscape, with new competitors emerging rapidly.

Google

Establishment-critical narrative

Judge Mehta completely failed in his legal duty by refusing to terminate Google's illegal monopoly, despite finding that the company had violated antitrust law. This weak remedy essentially rewards criminal behavior and sends a message that monopolists can buy their way out of consequences. The decision overlooks Supreme Court precedent that requires structural remedies to end monopolization and will allow Google to continue its anticompetitive practices largely unchanged.

BIG by Matt Stoller