Emerald Coast Times

On August 14, 2024, U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) issued a letter to Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet Inc., urging compliance with the federal district court's impending ruling in the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) antitrust case against Google. The court recently determined that Google unlawfully monopolized the online search market.

Throughout the DOJ’s trial, evidence emerged showing Google's efforts to become the default search engine on various devices. With Google now found liable for monopolizing the market, the DOJ may seek remedies to restore competition. Gaetz and Lee emphasized their intent to monitor Google's adherence to any court-ordered remedies.

Rep. Gaetz previously queried DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about potential departmental involvement with Big Tech in suppressing information regarding an assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.

The full text of Rep. Gaetz and Sen. Lee’s letter is available online, along with exclusive coverage by Breitbart News.

The letter addressed concerns about Google's practices, including payments exceeding $20 billion annually to maintain its default status on devices and suppression of conservative voices. It also highlighted worries over Google's workforce influencing company decisions against law enforcement efforts.

Gaetz and Lee stressed that any remedy imposed by the court must be followed strictly by Google. They expressed apprehension over Big Tech's history of non-compliance with legal rulings, citing Apple's alleged evasion of a 2021 injunction as an example.

They further warned that Google's significant lobbying efforts would not shield it from accountability if it fails to comply with legal obligations under any forthcoming antitrust remedy.

The letter concluded with a commitment from Gaetz and Lee to ensure fair competition in the digital marketplace.