When the world of technology is pitted against antitrust regulators, the disclosure of court documents would reveal that Google paid Apple $20 billion in 2022, an astonishingly high figure. The purpose? Remaining the default search engine in iPhones, iPads, and Macs. With 3 billion dollars at stake, the spotlight is brightly thrown on the cut-throat competitiveness in the world of search engines and the drastic procedures used to get on top.
Google’s $20 Billion Deal: Securing Safari’s Search Crown
The DoJ points out that Google has abused its dominant search position. A recent leak has supposedly uncovered that Google forks out 36% of its Safari search revenue to Apple, largely discouraging Bing and DuckDuckGo from making any notable strides on Apple devices.
This is certainly not a modern one. Google has been the default search engine in Safari since 2002 and, interestingly, the details about their agreement have always remained private. Although in theory, users have the option to opt for alternative search engines like Yahoo or Ecosia, the process itself is not very user-friendly and is buried deep within Safari’s settings.
But, winds of change might be blowing. Europe’s Digital Markets Act forces Apple to include more browser choices on iPhones, allowing users to get more independence with their search behavior. Also, the DoJ case decision that may occur can overturn the entire agreement. With the closing arguments coming up, an imminent verdict is on the verge.
This legal tussle reflects the complex interplay of tech giants and the consequences of such transactions on competition through the lens. The decision of whether Google can maintain search dominance on Safari or not will be in the hands of the court. One thing remains certain: the fight for online searching is not showing any sign of slowing down.
