In a significant blow to one of the world's largest tech companies, a federal judge has ruled that Google violated antitrust laws by maintaining a monopoly in the markets for general search services and general search text advertisements. The ruling, delivered by Judge Amit Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, marks a watershed moment in the ongoing debate over the power and influence of major tech firms.

The decision comes after a lengthy trial in which the Justice Department accused Google of illegally abusing its dominant position to stifle competition and harm consumers. The court found that Google's actions, including its exclusive deals with device manufacturers and web browsers, amounted to anticompetitive behavior that violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act.

"After having carefully considered and weighed the witness testimony and evidence, the court reaches the following conclusion: Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly," Judge Mehta wrote in his opinion.

The ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications for Google and the broader tech industry. The company may be forced to make significant changes to its business practices, and the decision could pave the way for further antitrust actions against other major tech firms.

Google has not yet indicated whether it plans to appeal the ruling. The company has long maintained that its search engine is the best in the market and that its success is the result of its superior product, not anticompetitive behavior. However, the court's decision is a clear rebuke of that argument.

The ruling is a major victory for the Justice Department and a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to rein in the power of big tech. It remains to be seen how Google and other tech giants will respond to this latest challenge to their dominance.