Sensory Inc. has filed a renewed antitrust lawsuit against Google, accusing the tech giant of unlawfully maintaining its monopolies over search and search-related advertising by blocking competing voice assistants on Android and other devices. The complaint was lodged in a D.C. federal court on Tuesday.
Allegations of Monopoly Maintenance
Sensory’s complaint centers on Google’s alleged use of contracts that make its Google Voice Assistant the default on a range of devices, limiting consumer access to alternative voice assistant services. The lawsuit claims that by making it harder for consumers to switch voice assistants, Google reinforces its dominance in the search engine market.
The lawsuit alleges that Google’s voice assistant sends users to Google’s search engine, effectively preventing rival assistants from directing traffic to other search engines. Sensory claims this practice creates “artificial barriers” to preserve Google’s search monopoly.
Google Voice Assistant Lawsuit : Links to DOJ Antitrust Case
Sensory’s complaint draws heavily from the ongoing antitrust battle between Google and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). That case, led by the DOJ and several states, contends that Google has illegally maintained its search monopoly, including through lucrative profit-sharing agreements with device makers such as Apple and Samsung.
