Tuesday's not off to a great start for Google.
The US Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google today (via CNBC). In the complaint, the Justice Department says that Google has unlawfully maintained monopolies in general search services, search advertising, and general search text advertising in the US using "anticompetitive and exclusionary practices".
The Justice Department argues that without action, Google will continue with its anticompetitive strategy while reducing consumer choice and suppress innovation.
"Google is now the unchallenged gateway to the internet for billions of user worldwide. As a consequence, countless advertisers must pay a toll to Google's search advertising and and general search text advertising monopolies," the DOJ says in its complaint. "American consumers are forced to accept Google's policies, privacy practices, and use of personal data; and new companies without innovative business models cannot emerge from Google's long shadow."
Eleven state attorneys general have joined the Justice Department's complaint as plaintiffs. They're from Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, South Carolina, and Texas.
Google responded to the Department of Justice's lawsuit by arguing that consumers use Google search because they want to, not because they're forced to. "Today’s lawsuit by the Department of Justice is deeply flawed," said Google. "People use Google because they choose to — not because they're forced to or because they can't find alternatives."
