Google has illegal monopoly over online searches, U.S. judge rules

The decision is a significant win for the U.S. Justice Department and 95 per cent on smartphones.

Alphabet's Google broke the law with monopolistic behaviour over online search and related advertising, a federal judge ruled on Monday, the first victory for U.S. antitrust authorities who have filed numerous lawsuits challenging Big Tech's market dominance.

The decision is a significant win for the U.S. Justice Department, which had sued the search engine giant over its control of about 90 per cent of the online search market, and 95 per cent on smartphones.

"The court reaches the following conclusion: Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly," U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta wrote.