The recent US court ruling that Google has an illegal monopoly in online search and advertising might lead to major changes.
This could include big fines or even forcing Google to split into smaller companies.
The US government wants to address the monopoly, but the process could be lengthy and complicated, with Google’s expected appeal likely extending the legal battle.
One drastic measure could be to split Google into smaller companies, separating its search engine from other parts like YouTube and Android.
This might not affect users much if Google remains the default search engine, but it could lead to years of legal disputes.
Another possible change could be stopping Google from paying other companies, like Apple, to be the default search engine on their devices.
This could encourage other companies to create their own search engines, but Google’s strong brand and user preference might make this difficult.
A simpler change might be introducing a choice screen when setting up a new browser, allowing users to pick between Google and other search engines. However, since Google is so well-established, this might not significantly shift user habits.
Looking back at history, similar cases, like Microsoft’s antitrust issues in the late 1990s, show that such legal battles can drag on for years before reaching a final resolution.
For more details, see the BBC’s coverage on the topic.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy9eegg0rdvo