Google is in big trouble…finally! | StewArt Media

by Jim August 8, 2024

Hey Rankers! Today I’ll be covering the recent antitrust case against Google, exploring the implications of the court’s findings and comparing it to past cases like the Microsoft antitrust case. You’ll discover insights into how Google’s business practices have come under scrutiny, the potential impact on the search engine landscape, and practical advice for businesses to enhance their online presence in a rapidly evolving digital environment.

What I learned

• The details and implications of the recent antitrust case against Google.
• Comparisons to the Microsoft antitrust case from the late 1990s.
• The future of search engines and the rise of AI-assisted search tools.
• Practical tips for businesses to improve their website user experience and stay competitive.
• We launch our new SAMScrum audits!

Transcript

Hey, welcome back Rankers! Have you heard? Google’s in big trouble, and not for the first time. We’ve been saying this for quite a while, but for other reasons. They’re in big trouble because of an antitrust case brought against them by about 38 different states in the US. The judge has just handed down his findings and he said yes, Google has actually breached the Sherman Act, section two of the Sherman Act, by using its monopolistic position to gain an unfair advantage.

The Antitrust Case Against Google

The main reason seemed to be around that Google has paid companies like Apple and other browser developers billions of dollars to be the default search engine on their devices. Google’s defence was that people would have used their search engine anyway, which might be true. However, the court found that Google abused its powers.

What does this mean? The judge has yet to hand down the decision about what the remedy should be or what Google’s punishment is going to be. Google has already flagged that they’re going to appeal the decision. This court case started back in 2020, so these things take a long time.

Comparisons to the Microsoft Antitrust Case

This situation reminds me of the court case brought against Microsoft back in the late 90s, which also went on for years. Microsoft was accused of abusing its monopolistic position as the default operating system for most computers by keeping other browsers out. Back then, you couldn’t remove Internet Explorer from the operating system.

One of the main casualties was Netscape, a popular browser at the time. The outcome was that Microsoft was ordered to break the company up, separating Windows from applications like Microsoft Office. However, after appeals, Microsoft only had to make their APIs more available to other developers, allowing other browser manufacturers to develop for Windows.

The Impact on Google

A lot of people are angry at Google due to updates in the last 18 months to two years, like the helpful content update and core algorithm updates. The court acknowledged Google’s monopolistic position but did not suggest breaking up Google. The remedy is yet to be handed down, and many hope for a significant change, like with Microsoft.

SEOs and others in the search industry often avoid publicly criticizing Google, fearing repercussions like ranking drops. Google’s ownership of YouTube and its monopolistic behaviour in that area hasn’t been addressed in this case. Some hope this will lead to changes in advertising costs and other aspects of Google’s operations.

The Future of Search

Google argues that people now get information from more sources than just search engines. Tools like Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Claude Anthropic offer alternatives. These tools provide rich snippets and answers directly, saving users from clicking multiple results.

The appeal process may see Google lose more dominance in search. Businesses should focus on delivering what customers want via their sites. This includes making information easily accessible and enhancing user experience.

The Value of User-Centric Reports

We produce in-depth Scrum reports twice a month for corporate clients or established e-commerce businesses. These reports analyse ads, organic information, user experience, and more, providing actionable insights to increase leads and sales. These reports are produced by our internal experts without relying on third-party tools. We’ve just launched a site where you can purchase one of these reports for your business. You can find them here

If you find this helpful, please like, share, and subscribe. We’ll bring reviews on new tools like Search GPT and Advanced Voice Mode from OpenAI soon. Focus on giving your customers the best experience, and you’ll see the benefits. See you next time!

Jim’s been here for a while, you know who he is.