Yelp sues Google for anticompetitive practices

Review platform Yelp filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google yesterday, alleging the tech giant monopolizes the local search and ad markets.

The suit claims Google prefers its own products over competitors despite quality concerns.

Yelp argues that the preferential search engine results hurt competition, reduce the quality of local search results, and ultimately harm both consumers and advertisers.

The review website wants the court to stop Google’s alleged anticompetitive conduct and to pay damages. They have demanded a jury trial in the Northern District of California.

The lawsuit follows a recent verdict by a federal judge who ruled in favor of the US government that Google is exerting a monopoly on search.

Yelp has been vocal about its antitrust concerns with Google, including testifying before the Senate in 2020 and filing complaints in the European Union.

Google plans to “vigorously defend against Yelp’s meritless claims.”