The U.S. state of Ohio has requested the courts to classify Google as a "public utility," accusing the tech giant of "exploiting its dominant position" and "undermining competition." Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost launched an unprecedented legal action on Tuesday to subject Google to the same regulations that apply to public utilities.
In a statement, Yost said, "Google exploits its dominant position in online search to direct Ohio residents to its products. This involves discrimination and undermines competition." He added, "When you own railroads, electric grids, or communication towers, you must treat users the same way and ensure everyone has access to the service in question."
Yost cited the example of searching for a flight ticket, stating, "If a search leads a person to Google Flights, they will not see offers from competing providers such as Orbitz and TraveloCity."
Google responded by stating that these legal actions lack any legal basis and affirmed its intention to defend itself in court. A spokesperson for the tech giant remarked, "The quality of search results on Google will decline, and it will become harder for small businesses to connect with customers" if Yost’s request is supported by the court. The spokesperson added, "Ohio residents do not want the government to run Google as if it were a gas or electric company."
Ohio is among many U.S. states that initiated legal action against Google at the end of 2020 for alleged antitrust violations. On Monday, the French competition authority imposed a fine of 220 million euros on Google for its practices in the online advertising market, demanding commitments for reforms that will have global repercussions.
