US judge rules Google violated Antitrust Law with payments to maintain a monopoly

A US federal judge has ruled that Google violated antitrust law by maintaining a monopoly in the search and advertising markets. The ruling highlights to Google's payments to other companies to make its search engine the default option on smartphone web browsers.

The case focuses on the $26.3 billion Google paid in 2021, a strategy that has significantly strengthened its position over competitors like Microsoft Bing. While the ruling establishes Google's guilt, it does not specify remedies, leaving the impact on Google's business operations uncertain. This decision may set a precedent for future antitrust actions against other tech giants, although Google is expected to appeal.