- Google fights two major US antitrust cases, underscoring big tech’s legal troubles.
- One ruling forces sharing of search data, another trial could split up ad tech business.
A US judge this week ordered Google to share its search data with rivals, marking another push by regulators to loosen big tech’s grip on key markets, as reported by Reuters. The case is part of a broader effort by US agencies to curb the power of the world’s most valuable technology companies, including Google, Meta, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia.
Google is facing the Justice Department and state regulators in two major cases. In Washington, a judge ruled the company must give competitors access to search data, a move meant to lower barriers for smaller players. The court also banned Google from making exclusive deals with device makers that block preinstalled rival apps.
The ruling left Google’s core products intact, with Chrome and Android spared from being split off. But even without a forced sale, the impact is already visible. Google has started loosening its agreements with device makers and carriers, and Apple has said it will introduce new AI-driven search options on its devices.
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Google plans to appeal, which means it may not have to comply for years. Still, the ruling signals regulators are willing to target how the company built dominance in search.At the same time, Google is preparing for a September trial in Virginia that could reshape the digital ad market. That case centres on two illegal monopolies in online advertising, and the court could force Google to sell parts of its ad tech business. Google has said it will challenge any such order.
Meta
Meta, owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, faced trial this year over the FTC’s attempt to roll back some of its largest deals. Regulators argued Meta bought Instagram and WhatsApp to eliminate threats to Facebook’s social media business. They pointed to internal records, including a 2008 email from CEO Mark Zuckerberg saying it was “better to buy than compete.”
Meta pushed back, saying the FTC’s case is flawed because it leaves out other major platforms like TikTok and YouTube, a reminder that antitrust scrutiny extends in Big Tech. A ruling is not expected until late 2025, leaving the future of two of Meta’s biggest acquisitions uncertain.
Amazon
Amazon is fighting an FTC lawsuit in Seattle that accuses the company of squeezing rivals and raising costs for shoppers. The case claims Amazon used a pricing algorithm that inflated household spending by more than $1 billion.
Amazon has said it dropped the programme in 2019, but regulators argue the company still distorts competition on its vast marketplace, which offers more than a billion items. A judge rejected Amazon’s attempt to dismiss the case, and a trial is now set for February 2027. The outcome could reshape how prices are set in online retail.
Apple
Apple is also in regulators’ sights. The Justice Department and states accuse the company of blocking competition by limiting how apps and devices work with the iPhone. The case highlights features like smartwatches, digital wallets, and messaging services that regulators say Apple restricts to keep users locked in.
Apple’s motion to dismiss was denied in June, and both sides are now exchanging evidence. The process is expected to run into early 2027, with no trial date yet. Any ruling could force Apple to loosen the rules that govern its ecosystem.
Microsoft
The FTC opened an inquiry in 2024 into Microsoft’s software and cloud business. Regulators are looking at whether the company set licensing terms that made it hard for customers to move their data to rival services. So far, the FTC has not filed a case, but the review shows regulators are also watching established players in cloud computing.
Nvidia
The Justice Department has launched an investigation into Nvidia, the chipmaker whose processors are central to AI development. Demand for its hardware has made Nvidia the world’s first $4 trillion company. Regulators have not filed a lawsuit yet, but the inquiry reflects concern that a single supplier holds too much sway over a booming industry.
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