The U.S. government's lawsuit against Google is entering its final phase. Opened on September 12 in federal court in Washington, it could, if it leads to a conviction of the internet giant, transform the rules of the digital economy, and force one of the richest companies in the world to change its practices.
This procedure, with its immense stakes, is nevertheless marked by the seal of secrecy. The almost total closed session in which the trial is taking place is unusual. Google believes this is necessary to protect its business model. "Once commercially sensitive information is disclosed in a public hearing, the harm to competitiveness cannot be remedied," Google wrote to Judge Amit Mehta, who is presiding over the proceedings. However, the latter pushes for certain central elements to be made public.
In addition to the secrecy, there is an atmosphere of intrigue. The company is suspected of having destroyed key documents and erased the documents of...
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