Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a lawsuit try꧋ing to have Google declared a public utility.

Google is facing increased scrutiny on multiple fronts, with some critics saying the company should be categorized as a public utility. Such a move would subject Google to more regulation, much like a gas or electric company. Supporters o💛f the move say the company’s monopoly in search justiᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚfies the classification and increased regulation.

Ohio AG Yost is on🧔e such critic, a﷽nd is now suing to force a reclassification of Google.

“Google uses its dominance of internet search to steer Ohioans to Google’s own products–that’s discriminatory and anti-competitive,” Yost said. “When you own the railroad or the electric company or the cellphone tower, you have to treat everyone the same and give everybody access.”

Tꦗhe lawsuit does not seek any monetary damage. Instead, it has two main goals:

• A legal declaration that Google is a common carrier (or public utility) subject to proper government regulation.
• To force Google competitors equal rights to its own, and not prioritize its own products and services.

This is the second lawsuit Yost has filed against Google, the first being a involving over 30 states,🔥 accusing the company of abusing its search monopoly.