I'm Last year, Judge Amit Meta ruled that Google violated the Sherman Antitrust Act.

The offense?

Striking deals to make its search engine the default on certain browsers, such as Apple Safari, and certain Android smartphones.

The defaults were not exclusive. You could always switch. Most people don't.

The obvious explanation for this is that Google offers the best search engine.

The judge meta adopted an exalted

view of behavioral economics. People don't necessarily use Google because it's good in this telling.

They probably just use it because it's in front of their stupid faces and their sheep.

Judge Meta didn't even conclude that the defaults actually maintained a

monopoly, only that they might plausibly have done so. And he acknowledged that, quote,

search has changed dramatically over the last 15 years, largely because of Google. He acknowledged,

in other words, that Google has innovated.

In short, the Department of Justice squeaked its way to victory.

Looking at the remedies, the DOJ is now demanding, however, you'd think they'd conquered Rome.

The DOJ seems to believe that if you win one antitrust lawsuit against Google on some narrow ground,

you thereby win every antitrust lawsuit against Google you might imagine.

Look at us, the DOJ says.

We are the Google Now.

This is the tech policy podcast. I'm Corbyn Barthold.

With me today is Vodushi Dyal, director of legal analysis at the Chamber of Progress.

The Duchy has done an incredible service.

She has sat through the entire Google Search Antitrust Remedies trial, which wrapped last week.

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