Rumble’s antitrust lawsuit against Google will proceed to discovery

Google’s motion to dismiss the antitrust lawsuit filed by Rumble has been denied by a federal district court in California. The lawsuit will now proceed to discovery, creating a rare opportunity to learn how Google operates and how it works to stifle emerging platforms while favoring its own.

Rumble’s lawsuit alleges that Google uses its dominance in search to direct users to YouTube instead of its competitors, highlighting the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. The law makes it illegal to “monopolize, or attempt to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among several States, or with foreign nations.”

Rumble is one of YouTube’s most significant competitors. Founded in 2013, it has grown rapidly over the past few years because it upholds free speech, while YouTube has been heavily censoring content, positioning itself as the arbiter of truth while banning, deleting, and demonetizing videos that go against certain narratives.