How Google, Meta and Big Tech have fought the US — and won.
The U.S. federal government has repeatedly failed in its attempts to curb tech giants through litigation. In September 2026, judge Leonie M. Brinkema ruled that Google CEO Sundar Pichai engaged in monopolistic behavior, but the decision required only adjustments to competitive practices, without structural changes such as division, which had little impact on Google’s operations. A similar ruling was issued by another federal judge in 2024, which did not require the sale of certain businesses. Last year, Meta successfully defeated antitrust lawsuits without having to divest Instagram or WhatsApp; in 2022, the U.S. also lost a lawsuit that failed to prevent Microsoft from acquiring Activision. Despite repeated attempts by Trump and the Biden administration to weaken the influence of tech giants, except for the 2024 TikTok bill, the federal government has never passed legislation to effectively restrict their development. Legal litigation has proven ineffective as a primary means.