Credits: Bloomberg
According to Bloomberg, in 2022, Google disbursed $20 billion to secure its position as the default search engine for Safari across iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices. This disclosure emerged from court documents submitted by Google during its antitrust confrontation with the United States Department of Justice.
The Department of Justice (DoJ) has accused Google of monopolizing the search market, with particular emphasis placed on its agreement with Apple. Court documents from November revealed that Google was paying 36% of its Safari search revenue, amounting to $20 billion.
Google has held the default search engine status on Apple devices since 2002, with periodic renegotiations. While both companies have aimed to keep details of their agreement private, it’s widely known that Google pays Apple billions annually.
Last October, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella testified that the Apple-Google agreement stifled competition, with Microsoft having unsuccessfully proposed Apple to acquire Bing. Apple’s Eddy Cue defended the partnership, citing Google’s superior quality and capabilities.
While Google remains the default option on most Apple devices globally, users have the freedom to switch to alternative search engines like Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia through Safari settings.
In Europe, the Digital Markets Act mandates changes to browser functionalities, allowing users to select default browsers upon setup, offering more options than in the US.
Should Google lose the antitrust case, the Apple-Google deal may be terminated. Closing arguments are imminent, with the judge’s decision expected later in 2024.