Tech Giants Face Pressure from Antitrust and AI Challenges (AI Translation)
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文｜财新周刊 杜知航
By Caixin Weekly’s Du Zhihang
在美国总统唐纳德·特朗普上一任期时走上国会听证席的四大科技巨头——亚马逊、苹果、谷歌和Meta——五年后拿到了对它们反垄断诉讼的初步结果。
The four tech giants—Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta—that appeared before Congress during Donald Trump's previous presidential term have, five years later, received preliminary results in the antitrust lawsuits filed against them.
其中，苹果和谷歌最为受挫，两家均收到了法院极为不利的判决。一向以封闭生态为特征的苹果iOS被要求对外开放App外链，且不准向外链收费。这意味着在美国苹果应用商店，所有应用都可以规避“苹果税”的抽佣，可能导致苹果公司每年损失数十亿美元的收入。苹果向上诉法院申请紧急暂停这一判决，但上诉法院2025年6月4日驳回了苹果的诉求。至此，苹果通过法律程序挽回“苹果税”的希望愈加渺茫。
Among the companies impacted, Apple and Google suffered the heaviest setbacks, as both received highly unfavorable rulings from the courts. Apple’s iOS platform, historically known for its closed ecosystem, was ordered to open up to external app links, and is now barred from charging fees for such links. This ruling means that in Apple's U.S. App Store, all applications will be able to bypass the so-called “Apple Tax”—the commission fee Apple collects—which could potentially cost the company billions of dollars in annual revenue. Apple filed an emergency motion with the appeals court seeking to halt the implementation of this ruling, but on June 4, 2025, the appeals court rejected Apple’s request. As a result, the company’s hopes of preserving the lucrative “Apple Tax” through legal means are growing increasingly slim.
谷歌面临的境况比苹果还险恶。在两次败诉给美国司法部后，谷歌被建议拆分最重要的业务——Chrome浏览器及关键广告服务，这将伤及谷歌三分之二以上的收入。
Google's situation is even more precarious than Apple's. After losing two lawsuits to the U.S. Department of Justice, Google has been advised to break up its most critical businesses—namely, the Chrome browser and key advertising services. Such a move would impact more than two-thirds of Google's revenue.
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- Donald Trump won the US Presidential Election in November 2024 and was inaugurated on January 20, 2025.
- Apple and Google face significant setbacks in antitrust lawsuits. Apple's iOS is required to open up to external App links without charging fees, potentially costing billions annually. Google faces calls to split off Chrome and its ad services, which could impact two-thirds of its revenue.
- These tech giants are also challenged by emerging AI technologies, which could disrupt traditional search and app store models.
Summary:
In the five years since Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta testified before Congress during Donald Trump’s previous presidency, U.S. antitrust litigation against these technology giants has progressed significantly, with preliminary rulings issued against all four companies, particularly impacting Apple and Google. Apple was ordered to allow external app payment links in its iOS ecosystem without charging commissions, effectively undermining the “Apple tax” and potentially costing it billions in annual revenue. Apple’s appeal to pause this decision was denied in June 2025, reducing its legal avenues to maintain the commission structure. Meanwhile, Google faced harsher consequences: after losing two major antitrust lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the company was advised to split off its Chrome browser and core advertising business, which together account for over two-thirds of its revenue. [para. 1][para. 2][para. 3]
The DOJ’s aggressiveness exceeded market expectations, especially considering the tense relationship between Trump and the tech giants, which peaked after Trump was banned from major social platforms following the Capitol riot. Even after platforms reinstated Trump’s accounts before the 2024 election in an attempt to mend ties, his administration moved decisively against them. Contrary to expectations that a second Trump term would relax regulations, Trump continued or even intensified antitrust actions, especially targeting companies perceived as supportive of the Democratic Party. [para. 4][para. 5][para. 6]
The heightened scrutiny was also colored by partisan politics. Conservative circles argued that tech companies were biased against right-wing speech, making lawsuits against Google partly acts of political retribution. If forced to divest Chrome, the DOJ—under Trump—would influence the structure of the market and the selection of buyers. These dynamics are amplified by Google’s historical alignment with the Democratic Party, increasing its vulnerability under the Republican administration. [para. 7][para. 8][para. 9]
Details of the antitrust proceedings reveal ongoing or concluded suits against Meta for its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, originally initiated in Trump’s first term, dropped under Biden, and revived again. The case concluded in May 2024, with a ruling awaited. Antitrust suits against Amazon and Apple, started during the Biden administration, progressed more slowly: the Amazon case, targeting its market dominance and favoritism towards its products, was set for trial in 2026; Apple’s DOJ case, started in March 2024, is still early in process and centers on alleged monopolistic practices limiting app and third-party device functionalities. However, the April 2025 decision forced Apple to allow external payment links in the U.S. without commission, with major players like Amazon’s Kindle and Spotify swiftly adapting their payment systems. [para. 10][para. 11][para. 12][para. 13][para. 14]
Both Apple and Google are now confronting a rapidly changing technological landscape threatened by generative AI competitors like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Grok, eroding their core business models. Google massively invested in AI-powered search, but its main revenue—advertising—remains under existential threat from court-mandated divestitures. AI applications are experiencing exponential growth, with global AI app revenues skyrocketing from $30 million in 2022 to nearly $1.3 billion in 2024—45% of which came from the U.S. Despite regulatory setbacks, major AI apps stay on Apple’s payment system, not yet exploiting newly opened pathways to external links. [para. 15][para. 16][para. 17][para. 18]
Trump’s administration now actively supports AI development, swiftly undoing Biden’s executive orders that restricted the technology and introducing new policies to foster AI talent. In public legislative hearings, attention has shifted from the old tech giants to emerging AI leaders like OpenAI, Microsoft, and AMD, cementing a generational shift in tech industry power. As antitrust enforcement intensifies and AI rapidly evolves, the future of the digital marketplace and traditional tech behemoths remains deeply uncertain. [para. 19][para. 20][para. 21][para. 22]
- Amazon
亚马逊 - The US government launched an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon in 2023, alleging illegal monopoly maintenance in online shopping, like favoring self-operated products in search results. This case is still in its early stages, with a trial tentatively set for 2026.
- Apple
苹果 - Apple faces significant antitrust challenges, especially concerning its "Apple tax." Courts have mandated Apple open its iOS App Store to external links and cease charging fees for them, potentially costing billions in revenue. This ruling, linked to the Epic Games lawsuit, highlights the increasing regulatory pressure on tech giants under the Trump administration.
- Google
谷歌 - Google is facing significant challenges from antitrust lawsuits, particularly in the US. The Department of Justice recommended splitting its Chrome browser and key advertising services, which could impact two-thirds of its revenue. Google has lost multiple cases, with courts ruling that its search and advertising services maintain a monopoly. The company's main revenue source comes from advertising, with its search business being the most crucial part. Google is also facing increasing competition from AI firms like OpenAI and Perplexity, which are interested in acquiring parts of Google's business if it's forced to split.
- Meta
Meta - Meta (formerly Facebook) is involved in an anti-monopoly lawsuit initiated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under the Trump administration in December 2020. The FTC alleges Meta maintains a monopoly in social networking by acquiring rivals like Instagram and WhatsApp. After being dismissed and refiled under the Biden administration, the trial concluded in May 2024, with a judgment pending.
- Epic Games
Epic Games - Epic Games won a lawsuit against Google in October 2024, with the court ruling that Google's app store engaged in "illegal monopolistic behavior." This ruling mandates changes to Google's practices over the next three years, including prohibiting it from requiring phone manufacturers to pre-install Google Play and allowing developers to use alternative payment methods.
- OpenAI
OpenAI - The article mentions OpenAI in the context of AI search providers that could replace traditional search engines like Google. OpenAI's product lead also expressed willingness to acquire Google Chrome if it were to be split, viewing search technology as crucial for ChatGPT to provide updated, accurate answers.
- Microsoft
微软 - The provided article doesn't contain information about Microsoft. Thus, I cannot answer the question using the given article.
- AMD
AMD - During A.I. related hearings, Google and Apple's absence allowed other companies like AMD to participate, showcasing a shift in focus towards new tech players. This suggests a growing influence for chipset manufacturers like AMD within the tech industry.
- CoreWeave
CoreWeave - CoreWeave is a cloud computing company mentioned in the article. It specializes in providing computing and innovation services, particularly in the AI sector. CoreWeave was invited to a US congressional hearing in May 2025, alongside OpenAI and Microsoft, highlighting its growing prominence as a "new force" in the tech industry. It is seen as a rising player in the competitive AI landscape.
- YouTube
YouTube - The article mentions that during former President Donald Trump's first term, he banned from Facebook, YouTube, and X for inciting the Capitol riot. Their accounts were restored prior to the 2024 election.
- Twitter
推特 - Twitter (now X) is mentioned as one of the social media platforms that banned former President Donald Trump. His account was restored before the 2024 US election. The article notes that despite tech companies attempting to mend relations with Trump, his administration appears set on retaliating through antitrust actions.
- X
X - Not applicable. The article does not contain information about "Chinese" or "English." It discusses the US Presidential Election in November 2024, where Donald Trump won against Kamala Harris. Donald Trump was inaugurated on January 20, 2025, and is the current president of the United States.
- Patreon
Patreon - Patreon is an app with a "tipping" function that has made its off-site payment button very prominent, while placing the in-app purchase (IAP) button in a less noticeable position. This change comes after Apple no longer charges commissions for external links.
- Spotify
Spotify - The article does not mention Spotify.
- DeepSeek
DeepSeek - DeepSeek is a Chinese large model company. DeepSeek and other new-generation AI companies abroad are competing with Google, whose monopoly is seen as hindering their growth.
- Anthropic
Anthropic - Anthropic is mentioned as one of the AI search providers that could eventually replace traditional search engines like Google. Apple's Eddy Cue believes AI models like Anthropic's could lead to Apple integrating AI search into Safari.
- Motorola
摩托罗拉 - Motorola, in collaboration with Perplexity, is set to pre-install Perplexity's AI assistant on its new generation of phones. This partnership offers new Motorola users a three-month free subscription to Perplexity Pro, which includes advanced AI models and deep research functions. This move by Motorola follows Perplexity's expressed interest in having its search engine pre-installed on phones, signaling a growing trend in integrating AI into mobile devices.
- Gemini
Gemini - The article mentions Gemini as one of the popular AI applications available on Apple's App Store. Despite Apple allowing external links for payments without commission, Gemini, along with other AI apps like ChatGPT and Copilot, continues to use Apple's in-app purchase system for subscriptions.
- Copilot
Copilot - The article mentions Copilot as one of the popular AI applications available in the US market. As of May 2025, Copilot, along with other AI apps like ChatGPT and Gemini, still collects subscription fees through Apple's in-app purchase system, despite Apple no longer charging commissions for external links.
- Manus
Manus - The article mentions Manus as an AI application. Manus, along with ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot, still collects subscription fees through Apple's in-app purchases in the US, even after Apple allowed external links without commission. This suggests that Manus is a popular AI application there.
- Claude
Claude - The AI model Claude, along with other AI chatbots like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Grok, poses a disruptive challenge to traditional tech giants like Google by offering AI chat features with integrated search capabilities. These AI models can perform "deep research," potentially fulfilling tasks that previously took hours or days, by linking to search engines like Bing or Google.
- End of 2020：
- The U.S. Department of Justice and attorneys general from 17 states filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google.
- September 2021：
- A U.S. District Court ruled Apple must allow apps to share external links directing users to outside payment methods, but Apple halted implementation by appealing.
- January 2023：
- Google's ad business became the subject of an antitrust lawsuit.
- September 2023：
- The Google antitrust trial, stemming from the DOJ's 2020 lawsuit, began a nine-month trial.
- September 2023：
- The FTC and 16 states filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon.
- March 2024：
- The U.S. Department of Justice, along with state attorneys general, filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple.
- March 2024：
- The European Union fined Apple over €1.8 billion and Apple announced it would lower commission rates.
- May 2024：
- The Google DOJ antitrust trial concluded after nine months.
- By late May 2024：
- The trial against Meta concluded and was awaiting a verdict.
- August 2024：
- A District Court ruled Google maintained a monopoly in U.S. markets for general search and advertising, violating the Sherman Antitrust Act.
- September 2024：
- During the U.S. presidential campaign, Trump accused Google Search of bias and threatened criminal charges if elected.
- October 2024：
- In Epic Games v. Google, a California court found Google engaged in illegal monopolistic conduct and issued a permanent injunction.
- November 2024：
- The DOJ recommended Google divest Chrome, Android, and AI-related businesses, but dropped Android and AI from the demand after Trump took office.
- November 2024：
- Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election.
- February 2025：
- Apple requested a pause in the Google case due to its exclusive search engine agreement, but the DOJ opposed and the case continued.
- April 2025：
- A court ruled Google's advertising services violated antitrust law.
- April 2025：
- Epic Games won its antitrust case against Apple; court ordered Apple to allow external links and barred commission on such payments.
- April 2025：
- Apple allowed external links in U.S. apps but set a 27% commission; later, a court ordered Apple to cease commissions on external-linked payments.
- April 2025：
- Donald Trump issued an executive order to promote AI education and professional skills.
- April 2025：
- Eddy Cue testified that Safari search volumes declined due to increased AI usage.
- April 22, 2025：
- At a court hearing about Google's Chrome breakup, OpenAI expressed interest in acquiring Chrome.
- April 23, 2025：
- Perplexity expressed willingness to acquire Google at a court hearing.
- April 24, 2025：
- Perplexity announced a pre-installation agreement with Motorola for its AI assistant on new smartphones.
- May 8, 2025：
- A U.S. Congressional hearing on 'Winning the AI Race' was held, with OpenAI, Microsoft, AMD, and CoreWeave attending, but not Google or Apple.
- May 2025：
- The DOJ submitted a court proposal demanding Google divest AdX and DFP in stages.
- By May 2025：
- Leading AI apps in the U.S. were still using Apple IAP and not external payment methods after Apple ends external link commissions.
- June 4, 2025：
- A U.S. appeals court rejected Apple's emergency motion to halt the implementation of the court's order regarding external links and commissions.
- June 5, 2025：
- Apple released a report stating the App Store generated $1.3 trillion for developers in 2024.
- As of June 7, 2025：
- The U.S. government's antitrust case against Amazon remains in the early stage, tentatively scheduled for trial in 2026.
- As of June 7, 2025：
- Lawsuits against Apple by Chinese consumers and developers are ongoing in Shanghai and Beijing. One case is at the Supreme People's Court awaiting verdict.
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