From CNET: A bipartisan coalition of 38 states and territories on Thursday filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google, alleging the tech giant holds a monopoly in general search, the heart of its consumer tech business. The complaint is the third antitrust suit filed against the Silicon Valley giant in a matter of weeks, escalating Google's battle with state and federal prosecutors over the company's dominance.
The lawsuit alleges the tech giant harmed competitors with its presentation of search results, favoring its own services over those of rivals. The complaint also claims Google asserted its dominance to become the default search engine in not only web browsers and smartphones, but also newer technologies like smart speakers and connected cars, through the company's voice assistant feature.
"Google, one of the largest companies in the world, has methodically undertaken actions to entrench and reinforce its general search services and search-related advertising monopolies by stifling competition," the complaint reads. "As the gateway to the internet, Google has systematically degraded the ability of other companies to access consumers."
The investigation was led by Colorado and Nebraska, and the coalition of states includes Arizona, Iowa, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah. The group is seeking to consolidate the case with a landmark suit filed by the US Department of Justice in October, potentially adding more weight to an already historic case against the tech giant.
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