'Google has turned gatekeeper': 36 US states sue tech giant

As many as 36 US states and Washington DC have filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that the search engine giant's control over its Android app store violates antitrust laws.

The lawsuit alleges that Google has deprived Android device users of robust competition that could lead to greater choice and innovation, as well as significantly lower prices for mobile apps.

The coalition against Google has said that it served as the gatekeeper of the internet for many years, but, more recently, it has also become the gatekeeper of our digital devices. This has resulted in consumers paying more for the software they use every day.

The lawsuit alleges that Google imposes technical barriers that strongly discourage or completely prevent third-party app developers from distributing apps outside the Google Play Store.