The U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Alphabet, Google's parent company, in 2020, alleging that Google illegally solidified its search engine monopoly through agreements with major companies like Apple, AT&T, and Verizon. The lawsuit, currently at trial, questions whether these agreements, particularly the $18 to $20 billion paid to Apple annually, hinder competition by making Google the default search engine on various devices. With Google commanding 90% of the U.S. and 91% of the global search engine market, the Justice Department argues that these contract-enforced defaults discourage consumer exploration of alternatives, effectively limiting competition and consumer choice. A ruling against Google is seen as a potential win for consumers, challenging the tech giant's dominance and fostering a more competitive market.