Google CEO: Antitrust trial may last for years, but business innovation remains unaffected
Google CEO Sundar Pichai expects that resolving the antitrust disputes facing Google will take years, but believes that these disputes will not pose a direct threat to the company's business. Google is facing two antitrust lawsuits from the US Department of Justice, involving the digital advertising and online search markets. Despite the risks of breakup and asset sales, Pichai stated that the company will actively defend itself and expects the appeals process to take many years
According to the financial news app Zhitong Finance, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet (GOOGL.US), expects that resolving the antitrust disputes facing Google will take years and believes that these disputes will not pose a direct threat to the company's business. Google is currently facing two antitrust lawsuits filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, involving the digital advertising market and online search market. Despite the Department of Justice seeking to break up Google and force it to sell off some assets, Pichai stated that the company will vigorously defend itself and expects the appeals process to take many years.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai stated that resolving Google's antitrust disputes will take time and downplayed the impact on the company's innovation capabilities. He emphasized that if these disputes are indeed seen to harm the company's innovation capabilities, Google will actively defend its position.
It is understood that Google is currently involved in two antitrust lawsuits filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, accusing it of illegally monopolizing the digital advertising market and online search market. The advertising case is currently in trial this month, while the search case suffered a defeat under Judge Amit Mehta's ruling, who plans to resolve the final issues by August. Pichai stated that Google disagrees with the ruling and will appeal during the remedial stage, a process that could last for many years.
It is worth noting that the current government's legal actions contrast sharply with the rapid changes in the technology industry. Google's strong position in the field of artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving, and significant changes are expected in the industry by the time these two cases are concluded.
Judge Leonie Brinkema may take several months to rule on the advertising case, which accuses Google of violating antitrust laws. If the government prevails, it may compel Google to break up and sell off some assets. Google may appeal, arguing that it has engaged in fair competition with competitors such as Facebook and Amazon.
Pichai explained that the appeal process may take a long time by pointing out that Google won a €1.5 billion (approximately $1.7 billion) antitrust fine in the EU General Court last week, a fine that has been in place for over four years since its imposition