A PYMNTS Company

Monopoly Case Against Google Centers on iPhone’s Search Engine Switching Process

By  |  October 26, 2023

In a landmark antitrust trial, the United States government is at the heart of an argument that Google is operating as an illegal monopoly. The core of this claim centers around a seemingly simple process on an iPhone, involving just four taps and a swipe to change search engines. Eddy Cue, a prominent executive at Apple, testified as a witness on September 26 to explain this critical procedure, reported Bloomberg.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    Cue, equipped with screenshots of an iPhone displayed on a flat screen, provided a step-by-step breakdown. He began, saying, “The Settings app, by default when you buy a new phone, is on the main screen. When you tap on that Settings, you get a list. You tap on Safari, and then you have ‘search engine’ listed there. It would show you what the current search engine is that you’re using as the default. And then if you tap it, you get a list of choices, and you can pick any of them.” Cue emphasized the simplicity of this process, stating, “Not a difficult process.”

    Nevertheless, when viewed from a different perspective, this apparently straightforward procedure resembles a complex maze, one that most iPhone users are unlikely to navigate.

    Critics argue that it unfairly solidifies Google’s dominance over competitors like Microsoft’s Bing, driving smaller search startups out of business while significantly benefiting Apple, which earns billions of dollars annually for designating Google as the default search engine.

    Related: Google’s New ‘Bard’ AI Calls Google A Monopoly

    The court’s decision on the accessibility of Cue’s instructions holds the power to reshape the future of the tech industry, possibly leading to Google’s breakup.

    The ongoing trial, now approximately halfway through, is set to enter a new phase with Google preparing to formally present its defense. The case has evolved into a focal point in the technology sector, drawing significant attention.

    While much of the spotlight has been on clandestine negotiations between leaders of the trillion-dollar tech giants, including Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai and Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella, the lawsuit unveils the concealed incentives that have silently transformed the way we interact with technology.

    US v. Google represents the most substantial antitrust case in the United States since the Microsoft trial of 1998. Interestingly, the Microsoft case dealt with more straightforward allegations of anticompetitive behavior.

    Source: Bloomberg