Google’s $36 Million Blow—Nobody Saw This Coming

Google’s secretive deals with Australia’s biggest phone companies have just cost the tech giant $36 million, exposing how unchecked Big Tech power can threaten consumer choice and fair competition.

Story Snapshot

Google admitted to making anti-competitive deals with Australia’s top telecom companies, forcing its search engine as the default on millions of devices.
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) fined Google $36 million and mandated an end to exclusive contracts limiting choice.
This case highlights growing global scrutiny of Big Tech and the consequences of unchecked corporate power over consumers and markets.
Regulatory action sets a precedent for challenging anti-competitive practices and restoring fair competition in digital markets.

Google’s Anti-Competitive Agreements and Their Impact

Between December 2019 and March 2021, Google entered exclusive agreements with Australia’s two largest telecom providers, Telstra and Optus. These deals required Android phones sold by these companies to come with Google Search set as the default, effectively shutting out rival search engines. In exchange, Telstra and Optus received a share of advertising revenue generated by Google Search. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) determined these arrangements substantially lessened competition, limiting both consumer choice and opportunities for alternative search providers.

The ACCC’s investigation prompted a regulatory reckoning. By mid-2024, Telstra, Optus, and TPG—the nation’s third-largest telecom—had all agreed not to renew or enter new exclusive search engine agreements with Google. On August 18, 2025, Google formally admitted to anti-competitive conduct, agreeing to pay a $36 million fine and eliminate restrictive contract clauses in future deals. The penalty, subject to Federal Court approval, marks one of the largest regulatory fines imposed against Big Tech in Australia, signaling a tougher global stance on digital monopolies and their behind-the-scenes influence over consumer technology.

Regulatory Pushback and the Broader Battle Against Big Tech

The case did not arise in isolation. Australia’s proactive approach to digital market regulation—spurred by ongoing concerns about Big Tech’s dominance—has led to several high-profile actions, including lawsuits over app store practices and misleading data collection. The ACCC’s enforcement against Google is part of a broader international movement to check the power of Silicon Valley giants. For conservatives wary of centralized power and government favoritism, these developments reveal how globalist tech companies can erode market fairness and individual choice, echoing frustrations with elite-driven agendas that overlook the average consumer.

Google’s explicit admission of wrongdoing and willingness to cooperate allowed the case to be resolved without drawn-out litigation. Yet, the regulatory victory is only the first step. The ACCC’s chair, Gina-Cass Gottlieb, underscored the importance of competition and consumer choice, especially as artificial intelligence and new search technologies evolve. By holding Google accountable, Australia has set a precedent that strengthens the hand of regulators worldwide—and offers a roadmap for restoring balance in digital markets where unchecked corporate power threatens to override both national sovereignty and user freedom.

Implications for Consumers, Competitors, and the Global Tech Sector

In the short term, Australian consumers will finally have more options when choosing a search engine on their Android devices. Telcos lose the exclusive revenue-sharing perks, and Google takes a reputational hit. In the long run, this action opens the door for competing search providers to enter the market, potentially driving innovation and lowering costs. The case also signals a warning to other tech firms: secretive, anti-competitive deals are likely to face legal and financial consequences. For conservatives, the lesson is clear—without vigilance and enforcement, powerful corporations can undermine competition, individual choice, and the values at the heart of a free market society.

Google to pay $36M fine for anti-competitive deals with Australia’s largest telecom networks https://t.co/SE4yfGP21W pic.twitter.com/AnsSdWUuBm

— New York Post (@nypost) August 18, 2025

The broader economic impact may include a redistribution of advertising revenue among search providers and device manufacturers offering more diverse choices to consumers. Politically, the case bolsters the authority of regulators to challenge monopolistic practices and protect national interests from foreign corporate overreach. The ACCC’s win represents not just a victory for Australian consumers, but a signal to policymakers in the U.S. and worldwide that it is possible—and necessary—to push back against Big Tech’s attempts to lock down markets through covert contractual maneuvers.

Expert Assessments and the Road Ahead

Industry experts agree that regulatory action, like the ACCC’s, is essential for maintaining fair markets and preventing abuses of dominance. While some analysts defend exclusive deals as routine business, consumer advocates and regulators maintain that such practices harm choice and innovation. Google’s admission and the fine are widely seen as a watershed moment, setting a new standard for tech sector accountability. As the digital landscape evolves, ongoing vigilance and robust enforcement remain crucial to safeguarding individual liberty, market competition, and national sovereignty against the unchecked ambitions of global tech conglomerates.