Big tech companies and regulators are closely watching the trial, which could force a shift in how the industry is allowed to operate.
Its outcome could reshape how the public accesses and interacts with the internet, or embolden Google to pursue an even tighter grip on the market.
The trial is set to last 10 weeks, as the government makes its case that Google leveraged its market power and wealth to strangle competition.
The company’s longtime chief legal officer, Kent Walker, has argued that consumers can still freely use any rival search engines and that Google’s services represent only a fraction of the ways that people browse the internet.
Google also claims its industry dominance – the government alleges it has about a 90% share of the US search market – is the result of providing a better product than its competitors.
It is unclear what punitive measures Google would face if found guilty of violating antitrust law.
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