Tech industry shaken by Sundar Pichai’s testimony: Questions raised on Google’s power in US antitrust trial

Washington, D.C. — A turning point in the history of the tech world came when Google CEO Sundar Pichai testified in an antitrust lawsuit filed by the US Department of Justice (DOJ). The lawsuit accuses Google of illegally dominating the online search market.

What is the matter?

The DOJ alleges that Google has made its search engine the default in the devices of these companies by entering into exclusive agreements with giant companies like Apple, Samsung, AT&T, and Verizon. Through these deals, Google has crushed competition and driven smaller players out of the market.

Under these agreements, Google spends billions of dollars every year to keep its search engine the default in iPhones and Android devices. The DOJ believes that this not only eliminates competition, but also deprives consumers of the freedom to choose.

What was said in Sundar Pichai’s testimony?

Sundar Pichai said in his statement in the court that Google’s main objective is to give a better experience to the users. He said, “We provide faster, safer and more useful services to consumers through these partnerships.” He said that the solutions proposed by the DOJ—such as turning off the default search engine setting and sharing search data with competitors—are against Google’s principles of privacy and innovation. He also said that the company gives top priority to the security of user data. Revealed on Gemini AI and Apple’s new partnership Pichai made a big disclosure and said that Google is currently in talks with Apple to integrate Google’s latest AI platform, Gemini, into Apple’s upcoming devices. If this partnership happens, it can take Apple’s AI features to new heights and Google will get a chance to penetrate deeper into the iOS platform. This announcement is a big signal to the technology world that Google does not want to limit its AI to Android only. Hearing going on under the supervision of Judge Amit Mehta The case is in the US. The case is being conducted under the supervision of District Judge Amit Mehta, who will make the final decision in this case. If the DOJ’s arguments are proved in court, it could lead to major changes in Google’s business strategies.

Possible results include:

• Preventing Google from being promoted as the default search engine.
• Order for data sharing with rival search engines.
• Even restructuring of some of Google’s businesses is possible.

Reactions and analysis

Technological experts believe that this case will determine the direction of competition in the digital market. Outside the US, countries like the European Union and India are already investigating Google. In such a situation, this trial can become a global precedent.

Alex Engler, a technology policy expert at the Brookings Institution, says, “This trial will determine whether a big tech company can continue to maintain its dominance on an essential platform like search.”

Google’s defense: Users like Google

Google argues that consumers choose Google because it is the best search engine, not because it is the default. Pichai gave an example in his testimony that in the Safari browser, where Google is the default, users can still choose Bing, Yahoo or DuckDuckGo if they want.

According to Google, the company has achieved success in the market on the basis of the quality of its services, and not through unethical business strategies.

What does DOJ say?

The DOJ said in court that Google’s strategy has almost eliminated the possibility of competition for smaller search engines. The department believes that if Google did not maintain its hold through these agreements, consumers would have had more options.

DOJ lawyers said that Google’s billion-dollar deals have only one purpose – to keep competitors behind and maintain monopoly in the market.

Possible impact on the tech industry
The result of this trial will not be limited to Google alone. If the DOJ wins, Google’s default deals with Apple, Samsung, and other companies could end, giving way to Microsoft, DuckDuckGo, and other smaller search engines.

Also, regulatory scrutiny could increase over Google’s potential partnerships with Apple in the AI ​​space.

Conclusion

Sundar Pichai’s testimony reflects a period in the tech industry where major legal battles are being fought around data, AI, and user experience. No matter how strong Google’s arguments are, if the court finds that the company has unfairly dominated the market, it will have ramifications for the entire global digital ecosystem.