New York Attorney General Letitia James released a statement following the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia's ruling that Google has maintained an illegal monopoly over online search engines. Attorney General James co-led a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in suing Google, alongside a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, addressing Google's monopolistic activities.
"This decision is a major victory in our efforts to ensure all companies, no matter how powerful or influential, are held accountable when they harm others," said Attorney General James. "For too long, Google has used its power to limit consumer choice in search, paying billions to ensure its competitors had no path to succeed, and profiting enormously from its monopoly. As Attorney General, I will not allow any business or corporation to take advantage of New Yorkers and exploit their position to grow their influence."
In 2020, Attorney General James co-led a bipartisan coalition of 38 attorneys general in suing Google for its illegal, anticompetitive conduct. The lawsuit alleged that Google entered into exclusionary contracts with other tech companies, such as Apple and Samsung, ensuring its search engine was the exclusive default on most devices. The court's decision found that Google violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act by maintaining monopoly power over general search services and general search text ads. Additionally, the court ruled that Google's distribution agreements with other tech companies are exclusive and have anticompetitive effects.