Apple CEO Tim Cook Steps Up Lobbying Efforts as Antitrust Enforcement Looms
On Monday, Judge Mehta of U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that Google had acted as a monopolist to retain its dominance over the search engine market, illegally suppressing the development of competitors and extracting inflated profits from advertisers. Documents published as part of the lawsuit revealed that Google had spent billions of dollars to ensure that its search engine was set as the default on web browsers and devices, locking in users who may not have otherwise chosen its products. These deals enriched companies like Apple, which collected $20 billion from Google in 2022. If Google’s appeal fails, these companies will no longer be able to count on default payments from Google or any other entity.
 
Now, independent experts tell The Financial Times that Apple will bear the brunt of Google’s monopoly judgement, as it may forgo default payments for the first time in decades. FT’s analysis also cites a new report from CfA’s Tech Transparency Project (TTP), which explains how Apple CEO Tim Cook became his company’s most prominent lobbyist in the fight against antitrust enforcement and other regulatory threats. Visitor logs reveal that Cook has attended at least 11 events at the White House, in addition to three state dinners and multiple private meetings with Biden’s senior aides. TTP’s full report contains more information on Cook’s lobbying activities around the world, including a previously-unreported communications with EU officials.