Google is now considered an illegal monopoly after losing its federal antitrust case. Will this change the internet as we know it? Plus, creep hacks into a kid’s bedroom camera and Neuralink gets its second patient.
🧨 Judge rocks Google’s ad empire: He says Google illegally dominated two major online ad markets: its publisher ad server and ad exchange. The feds say it’s time to sell off Google Ad Manager. Meanwhile, another antitrust trial is heating up next week that could force Google to also offload Chrome.
$50 billion
That’s how much Google Chrome might be worth if Google was forced to sell it off. At least that’s what DuckDuckGo’s CEO estimated at Google’s antitrust trial. (Spoiler: DuckDuckGo will not be bidding.) The DOJ is still deciding how to break up Google’s search monopoly, and selling Chrome is on the table. AI players like OpenAI and Perplexity say they’d be interested.
🧑⚖️ Zuck tried to settle with mucho bucks: Mark Zuckerberg thought he could pay his way out of a government antitrust trial over Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The FTC wanted $30B; Zuckerberg offered $450M and good vibes. The FTC said: lol, no. Meta argues that TikTok is the real threat now, not Instagram.
The NFL may owe you a ton of money
Paid for the “Sunday Ticket” subscription service? A jury found that the NFL broke antitrust laws in how it handled some Sunday games. Uber’s “One Less Car” challenge, and no more green texts with your Android buddy. Also, a creepy AI ad from Toys ‘R’ Us!
Google’s in DOJ big trouble
I’ll make two predictions: First, the long-awaited Department of Justice antitrust lawsuit against Google will be big. Even bigger than the break-up of Standard Oil and The Bell System. Second: The government will win.
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