DOJ and States to Appeal Google’s Slap on the Wrist in Search Antitrust Case

February 4, 2026
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) and a coalition of states just dropped notices of appeal in the Google Search antitrust saga, refusing to let a federal judge's feather-light remedies stand. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google illegally monopolized search—locking in 90% market share through shady deals with Apple and others—but slapped the tech behemoth with what critics call a slap on the wrist: no breakup, just some tweaks like loosening default search agreements and data-sharing mandates over the next decade. This comes after a bombshell 2023 trial exposing how Google spent billions to crush rivals like Bing and DuckDuckGo, all while gobbling up AI dominance through acquisitions and data hoarding. The appeal signals the feds aren't done fighting Big Tech's iron grip, potentially dragging this into the Supreme Court circus. Digging deeper, this isn't just about search bars—it's a proxy war for information control that hits the 2A community square in the chest. Google, the gatekeeper of what 90% of Americans see online, has a notorious history of throttling pro-gun voices: demonetizing YouTube channels like Hickok45, burying search results on firearm reviews, and algorithmically shadowbanning 2A advocacy amid post-Parkland purges. Remember 2018, when Google tweaked its safe search to flag legal gun terms as dangerous? Or how it partners with the Biden admin's censorship machine via initiatives like the Disinformation Governance Board echoes? A real monopoly smackdown could force transparency in algorithms, exposing biased moderation that suppresses AR-15 tutorials while boosting Everytown propaganda. Limited remedies mean Google keeps curating reality, deciding which 2A facts rise and which get buried—think suppressed stories on defensive gun uses (over 2.5 million annually per CDC data) versus hyped mass shootings. For gun owners, the implications are powder-keg urgent: back the appeal, because a neutered Google means freer info flow for training vids, legal updates, and countering ATF overreach narratives. States like Texas and Florida leading the charge show red-state muscle against Silicon Valley's blue bubble. If the appeals court guts the ruling further, expect more exodus to decentralized search like Brave or Presearch; if it toughens up, we might finally get a level digital playing field. 2A warriors, this is your fight—share suppressed sources, build alt-tech stacks, and keep the pressure on. Big Tech's search stranglehold ends when we make it end.

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) and a coalition of states just dropped notices of appeal in the Google Search antitrust saga, refusing to let a federal judge’s feather-light remedies stand. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google illegally monopolized search—locking in 90% market share through shady deals with Apple and others—but slapped the tech behemoth with what critics call a slap on the wrist: no breakup, just some tweaks like loosening default search agreements and data-sharing mandates over the next decade. This comes after a bombshell 2023 trial exposing how Google spent billions to crush rivals like Bing and DuckDuckGo, all while gobbling up AI dominance through acquisitions and data hoarding. The appeal signals the feds aren’t done fighting Big Tech’s iron grip, potentially dragging this into the Supreme Court circus.

Digging deeper, this isn’t just about search bars—it’s a proxy war for information control that hits the 2A community square in the chest. Google, the gatekeeper of what 90% of Americans see online, has a notorious history of throttling pro-gun voices: demonetizing YouTube channels like Hickok45, burying search results on firearm reviews, and algorithmically shadowbanning 2A advocacy amid post-Parkland purges. Remember 2018, when Google tweaked its safe search to flag legal gun terms as dangerous? Or how it partners with the Biden admin’s censorship machine via initiatives like the Disinformation Governance Board echoes? A real monopoly smackdown could force transparency in algorithms, exposing biased moderation that suppresses AR-15 tutorials while boosting Everytown propaganda. Limited remedies mean Google keeps curating reality, deciding which 2A facts rise and which get buried—think suppressed stories on defensive gun uses (over 2.5 million annually per CDC data) versus hyped mass shootings.

For gun owners, the implications are powder-keg urgent: back the appeal, because a neutered Google means freer info flow for training vids, legal updates, and countering ATF overreach narratives. States like Texas and Florida leading the charge show red-state muscle against Silicon Valley’s blue bubble. If the appeals court guts the ruling further, expect more exodus to decentralized search like Brave or Presearch; if it toughens up, we might finally get a level digital playing field. 2A warriors, this is your fight—share suppressed sources, build alt-tech stacks, and keep the pressure on. Big Tech’s search stranglehold ends when we make it end.

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