West Virginia (WOAY)- A major legal setback for Google.
A federal judge ruled Monday that the tech giant had violated U.S. anti-trust laws with its search business.
The decision has the potential to reshape how millions of Americans get information online and could put an end to Google’s dominance.
The company has spent tens of billions of dollars on exclusive contracts to secure a dominant position as the world’s default search provider on smartphones and web browsers.
The government said those contracts helped block rivals like Microsoft’s Bing and Duck Duck Go.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey joined the U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit with 34 other states, two u.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia.
It is currently unclear what penalties Google may face.
Another hearing will likely determine the next course of action.
