SUMMARY
In a landmark ruling, a federal judge has found that Google broke antitrust laws to maintain a monopoly in online searches. The ruling could upend how Americans get their information online and fundamentally change the way big tech companies operate.
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KEY TERMS
monopoly — (an organization or group that has) complete control of something, especially an area of business, so that other businesses have no share of the market
abdicate — to stop controlling or managing something that you are in charge of
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- How did Google illegally secure their online search dominance according to the lawsuit described in this story?
- Who are the other tech companies that the Biden administration has monopolization lawsuits against?
- What could this ruling change for big tech companies in the future?
- When could a remedy for Google's search monopoly be implemented?
- When was the last big antitrust ruling against a tech company?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
Since the turn of the century, Google has maintained its place as the dominant search engine. How do you think this ruling could affect the way we use Google in the future?
Media literacy: Do you think this ruling will result in an increase in web traffic for other search engines?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?
FOR MORE
What students can do:
Learn about how tech companies are advancing the usage of AI using this Daily News Lesson.
This post was written by Gianfranco Beran, a senior at Amherst College, and an intern with PBS NewsHour Classroom, and edited by NewsHour's Luke Gerwe.
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