VOA科学技术2024--Judge Rules Google Has Illegal Monopoly over Search

An American judge has ruled that Google violates U.S. trade laws by operating its search engine as an illegal monopoly.

The ruling accuses Google of paying smartphone makers¹ to ensure that Google's search engine is set as the default system on new devices. The U.S. Justice Department brought the antitrust case against Google's parent company, Alphabet.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said his decision took into account all evidence and statements presented during the trial, which ended in May. When the first part of the trial ended, it was up to Mehta to decide whether any of Google's operations were illegal.

Mehta wrote in his ruling, "Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly." Technology experts have estimated Google enjoys control of about 90 percent of the online search market and about 95 percent of smartphones.

A recent study by the California-based investment company BOND found that Google's search engine processes an estimated 8.5 billion requests per day worldwide. That result was nearly double the number of daily search requests recorded in 2012. Google's online advertising² business helps fuel the majority of Alphabet's $307 billion in yearly revenue.

The ruling could open the door for a second trial for the court to establish ways for Google to fix its operations to obey current laws. Some experts say one possible fix could be for Google's current business structure to be broken up. Such changes could greatly reshape the current systems for online advertising.

Alphabet criticized the court's ruling and said it plans to appeal. "This decision recognizes that Google offers the best search engine," the company said in a statement. It added, however, that the ruling does not permit the company "to make it easily available.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland called the decision "a historic win for the American people." He noted³, "no company, no matter how large or influential⁴" should remain above the law.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the decision a "pro-competition ruling" and "a victory for the American people." She said she believes all people "deserve an internet that is free, fair, and open for competition."

In explaining his ruling, Mehta noted Google had paid $26.3 billion in 2021 alone to make sure its search engine was included as the default system on smartphones and browsers⁵.

Such payments, the judge wrote, have permitted Google to keep its strong market share over worldwide internet search. Keeping the default position represents a huge business advantage for Google over its competitors, Mehta added.

The judge noted that under the current system, it would be nearly impossible for any other company to secure the same kind of default agreement with smartphone makers. Such a deal would require a company willing "to pay partners upwards⁶ of billions of dollars in revenue sharing," Mehta said.

Discussions in court about how Google's operations should change are set to begin on September 6 in Washington D.C.

The ruling is the first major decision in a series of cases brought against big technology companies in recent years, including Google, Apple, Meta and Amazon. Those cases involve antitrust, privacy and other issues.

Words in This Story

monopoly - n. complete control of the entire supply of goods or of a service in a certain area or market

default - n. what exists or usually happens if no changes are made

antitrust - adj. related to efforts to prevent companies from working together to unfairly control prices or create a monopoly

maintain - v. keep something going

revenue - n. income a government or company regularly receives

deserve - v. to earn or be given something because of things you do or qualities you have

dominant⁷ - adj. more important or notable than anything else of the same kind

advantage - n. a condition that provides a greater chance of success

1 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

5 browsers   

浏览器

参考例句：

• Three-layer architecture is a model made up of browser, web server and background database server. 这种体系结构是由Browser、Web Server、Database Server组成的浏览器／Web服务器／后台数据库服务器三层模型。 来自互联网
• Another excellent approach is to abandon the browser entirely and, instead, create a non-browser-based, Internet-enabled application. 另一个非常好的方法是干脆放弃浏览器，取而代之，创建一个不基于浏览器，但却是基于互联网的应用。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

6 upwards   

adv.向上，在更高处...以上

参考例句：

• The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
• The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。

7 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。