Google CEO Sundar Pichai returned to the antitrust witness stand on Tuesday for a second day of questioning, as the company concludes its defense in a landmark case brought by the Justice Department and a coalition of state attorneys general.
Key Highlights:
- Google CEO Sundar Pichai took the stand for the second time in two weeks to defend the company against monopoly claims in a landmark antitrust trial.
- Pichai faced intense questioning from Justice Department attorneys, who challenged his assertions that Google’s dominance in the search market is justified by its superior products and services.
- The Google CEO defended the company’s business practices, arguing that they are essential to maintaining a free and open internet.
- The outcome of the trial could have significant implications for the future of the internet and the tech industry as a whole.
Pichai faced intense scrutiny from Justice Department attorneys, who challenged his claims that Google’s dominance in the search market is justified by its superior products and services. The government lawyers argued that Google’s business practices, such as paying billions of dollars to smartphone manufacturers to make its search engine the default option, have stifled competition and harmed consumers.
“Google has the power to choose winners and losers in the search market,” said Justice Department attorney William Barr. “And it has used that power to maintain its monopoly.”
Pichai countered that Google’s agreements with smartphone manufacturers are simply commercial arrangements that benefit both parties. He also argued that Google’s search engine is the best in the world because the company has invested heavily in research and development.
“We compete on our merits,” Pichai said. “We don’t try to suppress competition.”
The outcome of the trial could have significant implications for the future of the internet and the tech industry as a whole. If the government prevails, Google could be forced to make changes to its business practices that could significantly reduce its market power.
The trial is expected to conclude in the coming weeks.
Google’s Defense Rests
Google’s defense rested its case on Tuesday after 11 days of testimony. The company’s lawyers argued that Google’s dominance in the search market is the result of its superior products and services, not of anticompetitive behavior.
“Google has not violated the antitrust laws,” said Google attorney Karen Handel. “The government’s case is based on a flawed understanding of the market and the law.”
The Justice Department is expected to deliver its closing arguments next week. The trial is then expected to go to the jury.
