Google’s $20 Billion Annual Payment to Apple Sparks Antitrust Debate Over Search Engine Monopoly

Court documents unsealed in the US Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit against Google have revealed that the tech giant paid Apple a staggering $20 billion in 2022 to remain the default search engine on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. The revelation has reignited scrutiny over Google’s dominance in the online search market and its exclusive agreements with device manufacturers.

 

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Sources: Bloomberg, Times of India, MacRumors, Moneycontrol, Cult of Mac (July 2025)