Overview

• A class action lawsuit filed in the UK claims Google abused its dominance in the online search market to overcharge advertisers and stifle competition.
• The lawsuit, led by competition law expert Or Brook, seeks over £5 billion in damages on behalf of thousands of UK businesses forced to rely on Google Ads.
• Allegations include Google securing its dominance through pre-installation deals with Android phone makers and paying Apple to make Google the default search engine on iPhones.
• The legal action builds on previous regulatory findings, such as the EU's 2018 fine for antitrust breaches and a 2020 UK study highlighting Google's 90% share of search advertising revenue.
• This case adds to the growing global scrutiny of Big Tech, as companies like Meta and Microsoft face similar antitrust challenges.