Alphabet’s Google paid $26.3 billion to be the default search engine on mobile phones and web browsers in 2021, according to American media reports. The figure was revealed on Friday (Oct 27) amid the ongoing once-in-a-generation antitrust fight over Google’s dominance of search and some parts of search advertising.

Google allegedly paid $26 billion to be default search engine on browsers, phones in 2021: Reports

The US Justice Department has alleged that Alphabet Inc's Google has destroyed internal corporate communications, thereby destroying important evidence in the antitrust lawsuit filed against the company by the United States.

US Justice Department accuses Google of destroying evidence in antitrust case

The hearing marked an escalation of lawmakers’ antitrust scrutiny on smartphone makers, and particularly Apple.

Apple, Google come under fire at Senate antitrust hearing