AG Yost files lawsuit to declare Google a public utility

DELAWARE – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a lawsuit in Delaware County Court Tuesday, asking the court to declare Google a public utility.

The lawsuit seeks a legal declaration that Google is a common carrier, also known as a public utility, subject to proper government regulation. It claims that Google has a duty to offer competitors rights equal to its own, meaning Google should not prioritize the placement of its own products. The lawsuit does not seek any money damages.

“Google uses its dominance of internet search to steer Ohioans to Google’s own products–that’s discriminatory and anti-competitive,” Yost said. “When you own the railroad or the electric company or the cellphone tower, you have to treat everyone the same and give everybody access.”

Ohio is the first state in the country to bring a lawsuit of this kind.

In response to the lawsuit, Google told Huron Insider in a statement, “Google Search is designed to provide people with the most relevant and helpful results. AG Yost’s lawsuit would make Google Search results worse and make it harder for small businesses to connect directly with customers. Ohioans simply don’t want the government to run Google like a gas or electric company. This lawsuit has no basis in fact or law and we’ll defend ourselves against it in court.”