Federal Judge Slams Google for Deceptive Tactics in Antitrust Case

Federal Judge Slams Google for Deceptive Tactics in Antitrust Case

In a recent high-stakes court case involving dozens of states, including California, Google has come under fire for what a federal court judge has called deceptive tactics. The case accuses the tech giant of monopolizing the distribution of apps that use Google's Android operating system.

Judge James Donato lambasted Google for breaking federal court rules by deleting internal employee messages that were supposed to be handed over to the plaintiffs as evidence. The judge found that Google’s deletion of the messages potentially weakened the antitrust case against the company.

“The Court has repeatedly asked Google why it never mentioned Chat until the issue became a substantial problem. It has not provided an explanation, which is worrisome, especially in light of its unlimited access to accomplished legal counsel, and its long experience with the duty of evidence preservation,” wrote Judge Donato in his decision.

The plaintiffs claimed that Google engaged in “a company-wide culture of concealment coming from the very top, including CEO Sundar Pichai.” Google was accused of putting up contractual and technological barriers to block Android users from using other app-distribution platforms than the Google Play store.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta also criticized the tech giant, saying that Google’s behavior demonstrated the lengths it would go to maintain its anticompetitive stronghold on the marketplace.

Google did not respond to a request for comment on the judge’s decision and the plaintiffs’ allegations.

This is not the first time Google has come under fire for antitrust behavior. In 2020, the US Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google, accusing the company of engaging in anticompetitive practices to maintain its dominance in search and advertising. The case is still ongoing.

The ability of tech giants like Google to exert an outsize influence over the tech industry and the wider economy has been a growing concern for regulators and lawmakers. The European Union has been particularly active in investigating antitrust violations by US tech companies.

In conclusion, Google’s behavior in the recent court case has come under heavy criticism from the judge, the plaintiffs, and the California Attorney General. This is yet another example of the tech giant’s antitrust behavior and its potential to harm competition and consumers. As antitrust scrutiny of big tech continues to grow, it remains to be seen what the consequences will be for Google and other companies in the industry.

.WORK CITED

Baron, Ethan. “Google ‘Not Truthful,’ Tried to ‘Subvert’ Court Process by Deleting Evidence in Monopoly Case, Judge Rules.” The Mercury News, Bay Area News Group, 29 Mar. 2023, www.mercurynews.com/2023/03/29/google-not-truthful-tried-to-subvert-court-process-by-deleting-evidence-in-monopoly-case-judge-rules/.