Google Executive's Notes Likened Ad Business to 'Illicit' Drug Dealing, DOJ Says

Google executive's notes likened Google's search ad business model to "illicit" drug dealing.
Notes said Google could "ignore demand" and "only focus on supply side" due to search dominance.
DOJ argued notes show Google is less incentivized to innovate to protect consumers.
Google tried to prevent "embarrassing" notes from being shared publicly in court.
Google spokesman said notes were "hyperbolic" and made for a public speaking class.

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Relevant topic timeline:

9/8/2023

Google Defends Search Deals as Fair Competition, Not Monopoly Abuse

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9/12/2023

Google Faces Antitrust Lawsuit Despite Search Engine Dominance, While Bing's AI Investments Fail to Dent Market Share

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9/15/2023

Google Aimed for Defaults Despite Antitrust Risk, Exec Testifies

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DOJ Sues Google for Alleged Antitrust Violations Related to Search Dominance

The Department of Justice has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google, alleging that the company's billion-dollar deals to be the default search engine on smartphones have created a monopoly, and if the trial is successful, Google may be forced to break up its various businesses.

9/29/2023

Google Tried to Hide Exec's Comments Comparing Search Addiction to Cigarettes

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10/18/2023

U.S. Government Takes Google to Court, Alleging Illegal Tactics to Dominate Search Market

The U.S. Department of Justice is leading a major antitrust trial against Google, accusing the search engine company of using illegal methods to crush competition and maintain an unfair advantage; if ruled in favor of the government, the trial could result in new online search possibilities for users and businesses and potentially change the way Google operates in the future.

10/25/2023

Google Developing New Ad Formats for AI Search, Expects Smooth Transition from Traditional Search

Google is working on ad formats for its AI-powered search experience and plans to experiment with a native ad format customized to each step of the search journey, as mentioned in its earnings call, highlighting the company's focus on ad revenue despite attempts to diversify through other ventures.

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Google Pays Billions to Apple to Stay Dominant Search Engine, Hurting Competition and Consumer Choice

Google is accused of illegally protecting a monopoly in online search through multibillion-dollar contracts and default search engine agreements, harming consumers and advertisers, as the government wraps up its case in a landmark monopoly trial.

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Google Ads Still Strong Despite Competition; Looks to New Formats for AI Search

Google's ad business is still thriving, with a search business earning $44 billion, despite facing competition and investing heavily in AI; however, the impact of Google's focus on AI on its core business is yet to be seen.

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Posted 10/2/2023, 8:37:30 AM