The Google of ten years ago was the company we should have trusted the internet.
The Google of today has essentially removed the founders and become a search for profit. Once they split the company 'for accounting purposes' it meant the google part of alphabet was going to be run for increasing profit almost exclusively, which mean just what we are seeing now.
The google of old is gone. They operate at a scale and against competitors that are completely ruthless. It's not just profit. It's winning. Beating the competitor. Emphasis on "beating".
This is what most corporations at scale actually do and what they are. Constant battle in a hostile environment.
Google/alphabet is likely under threat of anti-trust and a whole host of other legal actions, eg possible pending monopoly charges, and likely criminal charges in multiple ways where they bent a rule for whatever reason. Lawsuits for other reasons we don't even know about. Lots of other speculative actions pending or in progress. Who knows what else. This is all part of the legal framework. An allegation is created and tested to see if could stick. If it can it gets thrown at the target.
Every other corporation at that scale is fighting these kind of battles every day. I'd actually be surprised if they weren't.
For those who think I'm talking only about google, you can substitute Facebook, J&J or any other large corporation across any industry.
The Google of today has essentially removed the founders and become a search for profit. Once they split the company 'for accounting purposes' it meant the google part of alphabet was going to be run for increasing profit almost exclusively, which mean just what we are seeing now.