History of Google in Timeline
Google LLC is a multinational technology corporation specializing in a wide range of services and products, including online advertising, search engine technology, cloud computing, software, consumer electronics, and artificial intelligence. Considered one of the world's most powerful and valuable companies, Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., is categorized as a Big Tech firm, holding a significant influence in the digital landscape.
January 1996: Google Started as a Research Project
In January 1996, Google began as a research project by Larry Page and Sergey Brin at Stanford University.
1996: RankDex Developed by Robin Li
In 1996, Robin Li developed RankDex, a page-ranking algorithm, which influenced Google's PageRank. Li later created the Chinese search engine Baidu.
February 1998: Ram Shriram Invests in Google
In February 1998, Ram Shriram invested $250,000 in Google, and he later introduced Jeff Bezos to the founders, leading to Bezos' investment as well.
August 1998: Initial Investment from Andy Bechtolsheim
In August 1998, Google received its initial funding of $100,000 from Andy Bechtolsheim, which motivated the incorporation of the company.
September 4, 1998: Google Founded
On September 4, 1998, Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin. They own about 14% of the publicly listed shares and control 56% of the stockholder voting power.
1998: Yahoo Refuses to Buy Google
In 1998, Page and Brin proposed to sell Google to Yahoo for $1 million, but Yahoo refused the offer.
1998: Google Search Engine Set Up
In 1998, Page and Brin used their friend Susan Wojcicki's garage as their office when setting up the Google search engine.
1998: Paper About PageRank and Google Search Engine Published
In 1998, Rajeev Motwani and Terry Winograd co-authored a paper with Page and Brin describing PageRank and the initial prototype of the Google search engine.
1998: Google retroactively offset all carbon emissions since its foundation.
In September 2020, Google announced it had retroactively offset all of its carbon emissions since the company's foundation in 1998.
1998: Google Doodles
Since 1998, Google has been designing special, temporary alternate logos (Google Doodles) to place on their homepage intended to celebrate holidays, events, achievements and people. The first Google Doodle was in honor of the Burning Man Festival of 1998.
March 1999: Google Moves Offices to Palo Alto
In March 1999, Google moved its offices to Palo Alto, California, joining other Silicon Valley start-ups.
June 7, 1999: $25 Million Funding Round Announced
On June 7, 1999, Google announced a new $25 million round of funding with major investments from Kleiner Perkins and Sequoia Capital.
April 1, 2000: Google MentalPlex April Fools' Joke
On April 1, 2000, Google's first April Fools' Day joke was Google MentalPlex, allegedly using mental power to search the web.
June 2000: Google Becomes Default Search Engine for Yahoo!
In June 2000, Google became the default search engine provider for Yahoo!, replacing Inktomi.
2000: First Google Doodler
In 2000, Dennis Hwang was asked to design a logo for Bastille Day and that's when Doodles have been organized and created by a team of employees termed "Doodlers".
2001: Eric Schmidt Hired as CEO
In 2001, Eric Schmidt was hired as the chairman and CEO of Google, proposed by John Doerr from Kleiner Perkins, after investors felt the need for strong internal management.
October 2002: "Google" Used as a Verb on Television
In October 2002, the verb "google" was first used on television, appearing in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
2002: Google launches Google News
In 2002, Google launched its Google News service, an automated service which summarizes news articles from various websites. Google also launched Froogle in 2002, which would later be known as Google Shopping.
2002: Yahoo Offer to Buy Google Fails
In 2002, Terry Semel, Yahoo's then-CEO, offered $3 billion to purchase Google, but the deal fell through after Page and Brin held firm on a $5 billion valuation.
2003: Google Leases Office Complex in Mountain View
In 2003, Google leased an office complex from Silicon Graphics at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway in Mountain View, California, which later became known as the Googleplex.
2003: Lobbying Spending
In 2013, Google ranked 5th in lobbying spending, a significant increase from 213th in 2003.
August 19, 2004: Google's Initial Public Offering
On August 19, 2004, Google became a public company via an initial public offering (IPO) with shares sold at $85 per share.
2004: Google forms Google.org
In 2004, Google formed the not-for-profit philanthropic organization Google.org, with a start-up fund of $1 billion, focusing on climate change, global public health, and global poverty.
2004: Google IPO
In 2004, Google went public via an initial public offering (IPO).
2005: Google starts developing its own server designs
In 2005, Google began developing its own server designs, moving away from solely relying on commodity hardware for parallel computing.
2005: Launch of Google Earth
In 2005, Google launched Google Earth, allowing users to view high-definition satellite imagery worldwide for free via downloadable client software.
2005: Google accused of losing its anti-corporate philosophy
In 2005, The New York Times and other sources suggested that Google had lost its anti-corporate, "no evil" philosophy, leading to the designation of a Chief Culture Officer to maintain the company's unique culture.
2005: Innovation Time Off leads to new products
In 2005, half of all new product launches in the second half of the year originated from the Innovation Time Off policy, which encouraged Google engineers to dedicate 20% of their work time to personal projects. Examples of services that originated from this time include Gmail, Google News, Orkut, and AdSense.
2005: Increase in Profit
In the third quarter of 2005, Google reported a 700% increase in profit due to companies shifting advertising strategies to the Internet.
October 9, 2006: Google Acquires YouTube
On October 9, 2006, Google acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion in Google stock.
October 2006: Google announces plans to install solar panels on its Mountain View campus
In October 2006, Google announced plans to install thousands of solar panels on its Mountain View campus, aiming to provide up to 1.6 Megawatt of electricity, enough to satisfy approximately 30% of the campus' energy needs.
November 2006: Google opens offices on Carnegie Mellon's campus
In November 2006, Google opened offices on Carnegie Mellon's campus in Pittsburgh, focusing on shopping-related advertisement coding and smartphone applications and programs.
2006: Advertising Revenue
For the 2006 fiscal year, Google reported $10.492 billion in total advertising revenues and $112 million in licensing and other revenues.
2006: Google launches Google Finance
In 2006, Google expanded its search services to include finance, with the launch of Google Finance.
2006: Google moves into office space at 111 Eighth Avenue
In 2006, Google moved into approximately 300,000 square feet of office space at 111 Eighth Avenue in Manhattan, New York City, housing its largest advertising sales team.
2006: Scott Hassan Founded Willow Garage
In 2006, Scott Hassan, the original lead programmer for the Google Search engine, founded the robotics company Willow Garage.
2006: Addition of 'Google' to Dictionaries
In 2006, the verb 'google' was added to the Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary and the Oxford English Dictionary, meaning to use the Google search engine to obtain information on the Internet.
2006: Reports claim high percentage of fraudulent clicks on Google Ads
Industry reports in 2006 claimed that approximately 14 to 20 percent of clicks on Google Ads were fraudulent or invalid.
March 2007: Google hosts first Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival
In March 2007, Google, in partnership with the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI), hosted the first Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival at its headquarters in Mountain View.
July 20, 2007: Google Bids in Wireless-Spectrum Auction
On July 20, 2007, Google bid $4.6 billion in a wireless-spectrum auction by the FCC.
October 31, 2007: Google Shares Hit $350
On October 31, 2007, Google shares hit $350 for the first time, driven by strong sales and earnings in the online advertising market.
2007: Tax Avoidance Strategies
Between 2007 and 2010, Google saved $3.1 billion in taxes by shuttling non-U.S. profits through Ireland, the Netherlands, and then to Bermuda.
2007: TiSP April Fools' Joke
In 2007, Google announced TiSP, or Toilet Internet Service Provider, as an April Fools' joke.
2007: Google launches "AdSense for Mobile"
In 2007, Google launched "AdSense for Mobile", taking advantage of the emerging mobile advertising market.
2007: Google Ranked Best Company to Work For
On Fortune magazine's list of the best companies to work for, Google ranked first in 2007, along with 2008 and 2012.
2007: Google aims for carbon neutrality in its operations
Since 2007, Google has aimed for carbon neutrality in regard to its operations.
March 11, 2008: Google Acquires DoubleClick
On March 11, 2008, Google acquired DoubleClick for $3.1 billion, gaining valuable relationships with web publishers and advertising agencies.
2008: Google announces 'Project 10'
In 2008, Google announced its 'project 10', which accepted ideas for how to help the community and then allowed Google users to vote on their favorites.
2008: Google Ranked Best Company to Work For
On Fortune magazine's list of the best companies to work for, Google ranked first in 2008, along with 2007 and 2012.
November 2009: Google Search dominates the search engine market
According to comScore market research from November 2009, Google Search is the dominant search engine in the United States market, with a market share of 65.6%.
2009: Google joined the PRISM program
According to unnamed sources, Google joined the PRISM program in 2009.
2009: Complaint from Foundem
In 2009, British firm Foundem filed a complaint against Google. This complaint eventually led to a €2.4 billion fine imposed by Europe's top court in September 10, 2024, for abusing its dominance in the shopping comparison market.
2009: Google reveals its own server designs
In 2009, Google revealed its own server designs, after having started developing them in 2005.
2009: Google hires goats to mow lawn
In Spring 2009, Google hired a herd of 200 goats for a week from California Grazing to mow their lawn as an eco-friendly alternative.
2009: Google Ranked Fourth Best Company to Work For
On Fortune magazine's list of the best companies to work for, Google ranked fourth in 2009, along with 2010.
January 2010: Release of Nexus One
In January 2010, Google released the Nexus One, the first Android phone under its own brand.
February 2010: Announcement of Google Fiber Project
In February 2010, Google announced the Google Fiber project, with experimental plans to build an ultra-high-speed broadband network.
February 2010: Google Energy receives authorization to buy and sell energy
In February 2010, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted Google Energy authorization to buy and sell energy at market rates.
July 2010: Google signs agreement with Iowa wind farm to buy power
In July 2010, Google signed an agreement with an Iowa wind farm to buy 114 megawatts of power for 20 years.
2010: YouTube joined the PRISM program
According to unnamed sources, YouTube joined the PRISM program in 2010.
2010: Tax Avoidance Strategies
Between 2007 and 2010, Google saved $3.1 billion in taxes by shuttling non-U.S. profits through Ireland, the Netherlands, and then to Bermuda.
2010: Google buys 111 Eighth Avenue building
In 2010, Google acquired the building that housed its New York headquarters at 111 Eighth Avenue, in a deal that valued the property at around $1.9 billion.
2010: Google's total carbon emissions and renewable energy usage for the year.
In 2010, Google's total carbon emissions were just under 1.5 million metric tons, primarily from fossil fuels powering data centers. The company also stated that 25% of its energy was supplied by renewable fuels in 2010.
2010: Google Ranked Fourth Best Company to Work For
On Fortune magazine's list of the best companies to work for, Google ranked fourth in 2010, along with 2009.
May 2011: Monthly Unique Visitors Surpass One Billion
In May 2011, Google's number of monthly unique visitors surpassed one billion for the first time.
September 2011: Google discloses electricity usage equivalent to powering 200,000 homes
In September 2011, Google disclosed that it continuously uses enough electricity to power 200,000 homes, nearly 260 million watts, which is about a quarter of the output of a nuclear power plant.
2011: Google Handles 3 Billion Searches Per Day
By 2011, Google was handling approximately 3 billion searches per day, requiring 11 data centers worldwide.
2011: Revenue from Advertising
In 2011, 96% of Google's revenue was derived from its advertising programs.
2011: Google donates to International Mathematical Olympiad.
In 2011, Google donated €1 million to International Mathematical Olympiad to support the next five annual International Mathematical Olympiads (2011–2015).
2011: Google launches Google Flights
In 2011, Google expanded its search services to include flights, with the launch of Google Flights.
2011: Introduction of Chromebook
In 2011, Google introduced the Chromebook, running on ChromeOS.
May 2012: Google Acquires Motorola Mobility
In May 2012, Google acquired Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, gaining its patent portfolio on mobile phones and wireless technologies.
July 2012: Google launches 'Legalize Love' campaign
In July 2012, Google launched a "Legalize Love" campaign in support of gay rights.
July 2012: Marissa Mayer leaves role as VP of Search Products and User Experience
In July 2012, Marissa Mayer left her role as Google's Vice-President of Search Products and User Experience after holding that position for several years.
September 24, 2012: Launch of Google for Entrepreneurs
On September 24, 2012, Google launched Google for Entrepreneurs, a non-profit business incubator providing startups with co-working spaces and assistance.
2012: Google Generates $50 Billion in Annual Revenue
In 2012, Google generated $50 billion in annual revenue for the first time.
2012: Campaign Donations
In 2012, Google ranked 2nd in campaign donations within the technology and Internet sectors.
2012: Investigation into Transfer Pricing Practices
In 2012, Google's tax avoidance practices reportedly sparked a French investigation into the company's transfer pricing practices.
2012: Google Ranked Best Company to Work For
On Fortune magazine's list of the best companies to work for, Google ranked first in 2012, along with 2007 and 2008.
January 2013: Larry Page Comments on Strong Quarter
In January 2013, then-CEO Larry Page commented on Google's strong performance, noting a 36% year-on-year revenue increase and hitting $50 billion in revenues for the first time.
June 2013: Google Identified as Participant in PRISM
Following media reports about PRISM, the NSA's massive electronic surveillance program, in June 2013, Google was identified as a participant.
June 2013: Google Acquires Waze
In June 2013, Google acquired Waze for $966 million, integrating its social features with Google Maps.
July 2013: Introduction of Chromecast
In July 2013, Google introduced the Chromecast dongle, enabling users to stream content from smartphones to televisions.
September 2013: Google announces purchase of electricity from Happy Hereford wind farm
In September 2013, Google announced it would purchase all the electricity produced by the not-yet-built 240-megawatt Happy Hereford wind farm.
September 19, 2013: Google Announces Calico
On September 19, 2013, Google announced the launch of Calico, a company focused on health and well-being, to be led by Arthur Levinson.
October 2013: Google's Consolidated Revenue Reported
In mid-October 2013, Google's consolidated revenue for the third quarter was reported as $14.89 billion, a 12 percent increase.
November 2013: Google announces plans for new London headquarters
In November 2013, Google announced plans for a new London headquarters, a 1 million square foot office space able to accommodate 4,500 employees.
2013: Start of timeframe for settlement to female employees
2013 was the start date for the timeframe within which female employees had to have worked to be a part of the $118 million settlement in June 2022.
2013: Google Ranked Second Most Valuable Brand
According to Interbrand's annual Best Global Brands report, Google was ranked as the second most valuable brand in the world in 2013, behind Apple Inc.
2013: Lobbying Spending
In 2013, Google ranked 5th in lobbying spending, a significant increase from 213th in 2003.
2013: Class action lawsuit filed against Google for 'no cold call' agreements
In 2013, a class action lawsuit was filed against Google and other Silicon Valley companies for alleged "no cold call" agreements, which restricted the recruitment of high-tech employees.
January 2014: Google's Market Capitalization Grows
By January 2014, Google's market capitalization had grown to $397 billion.
January 26, 2014: Google to Acquire DeepMind Technologies
On January 26, 2014, Google announced its agreement to acquire DeepMind Technologies, an AI company from London.
June 2014: Announcement of Google Cardboard
In June 2014, Google announced Google Cardboard, a simple cardboard viewer allowing users to view virtual reality (VR) media using their smartphones.
2014: Key Trends of Google
Until 2014, the key trends of Google were tracked for the financial year ending December 31.
April 2015: Announcement of Project Fi
In April 2015, Google announced Project Fi, a mobile virtual network operator combining Wi-Fi and cellular networks for seamless connectivity.
May 2015: Google Webmaster Tools rebranded as Google Search Console
In May 2015, Google Webmaster Tools was rebranded as Google Search Console. Google Search Console allows webmasters to check the sitemap, crawl rate, and for security issues of their websites, as well as optimize their website's visibility.
May 2015: Google announces intention to create campus in Hyderabad, India
In May 2015, Google announced its intention to create its own campus in Hyderabad, India, which is reported to be the company's largest outside the United States and will accommodate 13,000 employees.
August 10, 2015: Google announces plans to reorganize as Alphabet Inc.
On August 10, 2015, Google announced its reorganization into a conglomerate named Alphabet Inc. Google became Alphabet's largest subsidiary, with Sundar Pichai replacing Page as CEO of Google.
October 2015: Adoption of 'Do the Right Thing' Motto
In October 2015, Alphabet, Google's parent company, adopted the motto 'Do the right thing' in its corporate code of conduct.
October 24, 2015: Sundar Pichai Appointed CEO of Google
On October 24, 2015, Sundar Pichai was appointed CEO of Google, replacing Larry Page, who became the CEO of Alphabet.
2015: Figures Published for Alphabet Inc.
From the financial year of 2015, figures are published for Alphabet Inc. which is Google's parent company.
2015: Google donates to International Mathematical Olympiad.
In 2011, Google donated €1 million to International Mathematical Olympiad to support the next five annual International Mathematical Olympiads (2011–2015).
2015: DeepMind's AlphaGo Defeats Top Human Pro
In 2015, DeepMind's AlphaGo became the first computer program to defeat a top human pro at the game of Go.
2015: Ticker Symbols Refer to Alphabet Inc.
Since the fourth quarter of 2015, GOOGL and GOOG ticker symbols refer to Alphabet Inc., Google's holding company.
January 2016: Settlement with the UK
In January 2016, Google reached a settlement with the UK to pay £130m in back taxes and higher taxes in the future.
March 15, 2016: Introduction of Google Analytics 360 Suite
On March 15, 2016, Google announced the introduction of Google Analytics 360 Suite, an integrated set of data and marketing analytics products for enterprise-class marketers.
July 2016: Gartner estimates Google has 2.5 million servers
In a July 2016 report, research and advisory firm Gartner estimated that Google had approximately 2.5 million servers.
October 2016: Announcement of Daydream View
In October 2016, Google announced Daydream View, a lightweight VR viewer for smartphones to view VR media.
December 2016: Google announces commitment to 100% renewable energy for data centers and offices
In December 2016, Google announced that starting in 2017, it would purchase enough renewable energy to match 100% of the energy usage of its data centers and offices, becoming the world's largest corporate buyer of renewable power.
2016: Google Ranked Second Most Valuable Brand
According to Interbrand's annual Best Global Brands report, Google was ranked as the second most valuable brand in the world in 2016, behind Apple Inc., with a valuation of $133 billion.
2016: Change in contract practices
In 2016, Google noted that it had already changed its contract practices. This was mentioned on September 18, 2024, when Alphabet's Google won a €1.49 billion ($1.7 billion) antitrust fine from the EU, with the General Court stating that the Commission failed to consider all relevant factors.
May 2017: Google enables "Personal" tab in Google Search
In May 2017, Google enabled a new "Personal" tab in Google Search, letting users search for content in their Google accounts' various services, including email messages from Gmail and photos from Google Photos.
June 2017: Google submits plans for new London headquarters
In June 2017, Google submitted plans for its new London headquarters to the Camden Council.
June 27, 2017: Record fine from the European Union
On June 27, 2017, Google received a record fine of €2.42 billion from the European Union (EU) for "promoting its own shopping comparison service at the top of search results".
August 8, 2017: Google fires James Damore for memo on diversity
On August 8, 2017, Google fired employee James Damore after he distributed a memo arguing that bias and "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber" clouded thinking about diversity and inclusion. Google CEO Sundar Pichai accused Damore of violating company policy by "advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace".
2017: Google Worked with U.S. Department of Defense on Drone Software
In 2017 Google worked with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) on drone software through Project Maven that could be used to improve the accuracy of drone strikes.
2017: Google Channels Money to Bermuda
In 2017, Google channeled $22.7 billion from the Netherlands to Bermuda to reduce its tax bill.
2017: Google's revenue from clicks amounts to US$109,652 million
In 2017, forty-six percent of Google's profit was from clicks (cost per clicks), amounting to US$109,652 million.
2017: Women sue Google for violating California's Equal Pay Act
In 2017, three women sued Google, accusing the company of violating California's Equal Pay Act by underpaying its female employees. The lawsuit cited a wage gap of around $17,000.
2017: Enhancement of Google for Jobs
Since before 2017, Google has a job search product. In 2017, Google for Jobs was an enhanced search feature, aggregating listings from job boards and career sites.
January 8, 2018: Lawsuit alleges discrimination against conservative, male, and/or Caucasian or Asian employees
On January 8, 2018, multiple employees and job applicants filed a lawsuit alleging that Google discriminated against individuals based on their conservative political views, male gender, and/or Caucasian or Asian race.
March 2018: Alphabet buys Chelsea Market building for $2.4 billion
In March 2018, Google's parent company, Alphabet, purchased the Chelsea Market building for $2.4 billion, marking one of the most expensive real estate transactions for a single building in New York history.
April 2018: Google Employees Urged CEO to End Contract with Pentagon
In April 2018, thousands of Google employees signed a letter urging Google CEO Sundar Pichai to end the controversial contract with the Pentagon.
July 2018: Accusations of slowing down YouTube performance on Firefox
In July 2018, Mozilla program manager Chris Peterson accused Google of intentionally slowing down YouTube performance on Firefox.
July 18, 2018: European Commissioner for Competition fines Google
On July 18, 2018, the European Commissioner for Competition fined Google €4.34 billion for breaching EU antitrust rules. The abuse of dominants position has been referred to as Google's constraint applied to Android device manufacturers and network operators to ensure that traffic on Android devices goes to the Google search engine.
August 2018: Google developing censored search engine for China
In August 2018, it was reported by Ryan Gallagher of The Intercept that Google was developing a censored version of its search engine (known as Dragonfly) for the People's Republic of China, which would blacklist websites and search terms about human rights, democracy, religion, and peaceful protest.
October 8, 2018: Class action lawsuit filed against Google and Alphabet
On October 8, 2018, a class action lawsuit was filed against Google and Alphabet. The lawsuit was due to "non-public" Google+ account data being exposed as a result of a bug that allowed app developers to gain access to the private information of users.
October 9, 2018: Google confirms appeal of fine to the General Court of the EU
On October 9, 2018, Google confirmed that it had appealed the fine to the General Court of the EU.
October 25, 2018: The New York Times publishes exposé on Google and Andy Rubin
On October 25, 2018, The New York Times published an exposé, "How Google Protected Andy Rubin, the 'Father of Android'". Subsequently, Google announced that "48 employees have been fired over the last two years" for sexual misconduct.
November 1, 2018: Google employees stage global walk-out to protest handling of sexual harassment
On November 1, 2018, over 20,000 Google employees and contractors staged a global walk-out to protest the company's handling of sexual harassment complaints. CEO Sundar Pichai reportedly supported the protests.
November 2018: Google announces plan to expand New York City office to 12,000 employees
In November 2018, Google announced its plan to expand its New York City office, aiming for a capacity of 12,000 employees.
2018: Court documents reveal Google's anti-union campaign 'Project Vivian'
Court documents revealed that between 2018 and 2020 Google ran an anti-union campaign called Project Vivian to discourage employees from joining unions.
January 21, 2019: CNIL imposed record fine on Google
On January 21, 2019, French data regulator CNIL imposed a record €50 million fine on Google for breaching the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation due to failing to sufficiently inform users of its methods for collecting data to personalize advertising.
February 2019: Privacy Incident Involving Google Nest Guard System
In February 2019, a privacy incident involving the Google Nest Guard system went public after it was revealed that the Nest Guard, a security device that was part of the Nest Secure system, contained a hidden microphone that was not disclosed in any product specifications.
March 2019: Temporary Workers and Contractors at Google
As of March 2019, Google used approximately 121,000 temporary workers and contractors in addition to its full-time employees.
March 19, 2019: Google announces Google Stadia cloud gaming platform
On March 19, 2019, Google announced its entry into the video game market with the launch of Google Stadia, a cloud gaming platform.
March 20, 2019: European Commission fines Google for anti-competitive practices
On March 20, 2019, the European Commission imposed a €1.49 billion ($1.69 billion) fine on Google for preventing rivals from being able to "compete and innovate fairly" in the online advertising market.
April 2019: Accusations of sabotaging the Firefox browser
In April 2019, former Mozilla executive Jonathan Nightingale accused Google of intentionally and systematically sabotaging the Firefox browser over the past decade to boost adoption of Google Chrome.
June 3, 2019: U.S. Department of Justice announces investigation into Google for antitrust violations
On June 3, 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice announced an investigation into Google for antitrust violations.
September 2019: Google announces $2 billion wind and solar investment
In September 2019, Google's chief executive announced plans for a $2 billion wind and solar investment, the biggest renewable energy deal in corporate history. This investment would increase their green energy profile by 40%, providing an extra 1.6 gigawatts of clean energy.
November 15, 2019: Curie, Google's first private submarine cable, is completed
On November 15, 2019, Google's first private submarine communications cable, named Curie, which connects California with Chile, was completed.
November 2019: Investigation into Project Nightingale began
In November 2019, the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services began investigation into Project Nightingale, to assess whether the "mass collection of individuals' medical records" complied with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
December 3, 2019: Sundar Pichai Becomes CEO of Alphabet
On December 3, 2019, Sundar Pichai also became the CEO of Alphabet, in addition to his role as CEO of Google.
December 2019: Bill Ready becomes Google's new commerce chief
In December 2019, Bill Ready, former PayPal chief operating officer, became Google's new commerce chief. His role is separate from Google Pay.
2019: Google decided not to renew DoD contract
In 2019, Google ultimately decided not to renew its contract with the Department of Defense, which was set to expire.
2019: Linwei Ding hired at Google
In 2019, Linwei Ding was hired by Google. He would later be accused of stealing AI information in March 2024.
2019: Accusations of retaliation against internal activists
In 2019, some Google workers accused the company of retaliating against internal activists.
2019: Free Online Courses for Engineers
Since 2019, Google runs free online courses to help engineers learn how to plan and author technical documentation better.
January 25, 2020: Formation of Alpha Global, an international Google workers union, announced
On January 25, 2020, the formation of Alpha Global, an international workers union of Google employees, was announced. The coalition is made up of 13 different unions representing workers in 10 countries and is affiliated with the UNI Global Union.
April 2020: Google announces cost-cutting measures due to COVID-19 pandemic
In April 2020, Google announced cost-cutting measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including slowing down hiring and recalibrating investments. Many employees started working from home, and Google announced it would be permanently converting some jobs to work from home.
June 2020: $5 billion class-action lawsuit filed against Google
In early June 2020, a $5 billion class-action lawsuit was filed against Google by a group of consumers, alleging that Chrome's Incognito browsing mode still collects their user history.
July 2020: U.S. Congressional hearings
In July 2020, U.S. Congressional hearings were held. Following these hearings, on October 20, 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google.
July 2020: Settlement in class action lawsuit
In July 2020, the class action lawsuit filed against Google and Alphabet due to "non-public" Google+ account data being exposed was settled for $7.5 million with a payout to claimants of at least $5 each, with a maximum of $12 each.
September 2020: Google announces it has offset all carbon emissions since 1998
In September 2020, Google announced that it had retroactively offset all of its carbon emissions since the company's foundation in 1998.
September 30, 2020: Alphabet Inc. Employee Count
As of September 30, 2020, Alphabet Inc. had 132,121 employees, with over 100,000 working for Google.
October 2020: Rebranding of G Suite to Google Workspace
In October 2020, Google G Suite was rebranded to Google Workspace. Google Workspace is a monthly subscription offering for organizations and businesses to get access to a collection of Google's services.
October 2020: Google pledges to make hardware packaging plastic-free and recyclable
In October 2020, Google pledged to make the packaging for its hardware products 100% plastic-free and 100% recyclable by 2025.
October 2020: Antitrust lawsuit filed against Google
In October 2020, an antitrust lawsuit was filed against Google, alleging abuse of monopoly power in the search and search advertising markets.
October 20, 2020: U.S. Department of Justice files antitrust lawsuit against Google
On October 20, 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google, asserting that it has illegally maintained its monopoly position in web search and search advertising.
2020: Dunant, Google's second undersea cable, planned to begin operation
In 2020, Dunant, Google's second fully Google-owned undersea cable, connecting the United States with France, was planned to begin operation.
2020: Google services experience multiple outages
In 2020, Google services experienced multiple outages: one in August that affected Google Drive among others, another in November affecting YouTube, and a third in December affecting the entire suite of Google applications.
2020: Overhaul of Global Tax Structure
In 2020, Google stated that it had overhauled its controversial global tax structure and consolidated all of its intellectual property holdings back to the U.S.
2020: Misinformation about the 2020 U.S. presidential election
In 2020, misinformation about the U.S. presidential election was spread on YouTube, leading to the banning of some creators. This became a point of criticism when Alphabet announced in September 2025 it would reinstate these creators, sparking debate about "free expression" versus "facts".
2020: FBI used geofence warrant to request data from Google
In 2020, the FBI used a geofence warrant to request data from Google about Android devices near the Seattle Police Officers Guild building following an arson attempt during Black Lives Matter protests.
January 2021: Australian government proposes legislation requiring Google to pay media companies
In January 2021, the Australian Government proposed legislation requiring Google and Facebook to pay media companies for using their content. Google threatened to block access to its search engine in Australia.
March 2021: Google reportedly pays $20 million for Ubisoft ports on Google Stadia
In March 2021, Google reportedly paid $20 million for Ubisoft ports on Google Stadia. Google spent "tens of millions of dollars" on getting major publishers such as Ubisoft and Take-Two to bring some of their biggest games to Stadia.
March 2021: Federal judge denied Google's request to dismiss lawsuit
In March 2021, a federal judge denied Google's request to dismiss the $5 billion class-action lawsuit alleging that Chrome's Incognito browsing mode still collects user history, ruling that they must face the group's charges.
April 2021: Report reveals Google's "Project Bernanke" for ad advantage
In April 2021, The Wall Street Journal reported that Google ran a years-long program called "Project Bernanke" that used data from past advertising bids to gain an advantage over competing ad services. This was revealed in documents concerning the antitrust lawsuit filed by ten US states against Google in December.
September 2021: Australian government plans to curb Google's targeted ad capabilities
In September 2021, the Australian government announced plans to curb Google's capability to sell targeted ads, claiming that the company has a monopoly on the market, harming publishers, advertisers, and consumers.
2021: Google and Amazon Cloud Computing Agreement
In 2021, Google and Amazon negotiated a $1.2 billion cloud computing agreement with Israel, which insisted on including a "blink mechanism" to override legal responsibilities in various nations due to data security concerns.
2021: Court documents reveal Google's anti-union campaign 'Project Vivian'
In 2021, court documents revealed that between 2018 and 2020, Google ran an anti-union campaign called 'Project Vivian' to discourage employees from joining unions.
January 2022: Google Ranked Second Most Valuable Brand by Forbes
In January 2022, Google was ranked as the second most valuable brand by Forbes.
February 2022: Google donates to Ukraine and supports low-income Americans
In February 2022, Google announced a $15 million donation to support Ukrainian citizens in response to the humanitarian crisis after the Russian invasion. The company also announced a $100 million fund to expand skills training and job placement for low-income Americans.
February 2022: Google Ranked Fourth Most Valuable Brand by Interbrand
In February 2022, Google was ranked fourth among the most valuable brands by Interbrand.
May 2022: Google acquires MicroLED display company Raxium
In May 2022, Google announced the acquisition of California-based MicroLED display technology development and manufacturing start-up company Raxium. Raxium is set to join Google's Devices and Services team.
June 2022: Google agrees to $118 million settlement
In June 2022, Google agreed to pay a $118 million settlement to 15,550 female employees working in California since 2013. Google also agreed to hire a third party to analyze its hiring and compensation practices as part of the settlement.
September 14, 2022: Google loses appeal of €4.125 billion fine
On September 14, 2022, Google lost the appeal of a €4.125 billion (£3.5 billion) fine, which was ruled to be paid after it was proved by the European Commission that Google forced Android phone-makers to carry Google's search and web browser apps.
December 2022: Google debuts OSV-Scanner for open source security
In December 2022, Google debuted OSV-Scanner, a Go tool for finding security holes in open source software, which pulls from the largest open source vulnerability database of its kind to defend against supply chain attacks.
2022: Google shared a $9 billion contract from the Pentagon for cloud computing
In 2022 Google shared a $9 billion contract from the Pentagon for cloud computing with Amazon, Microsoft, and Oracle.
2022: Google paid Apple to be default search engine on Safari
In 2022, Google reportedly paid Apple $22 billion to maintain its position as the default search engine on Safari. It marks one of the largest payments between two tech giants in recent years.
2022: Project Vivian
In 2022, court documents from a National Labor Relations Board ruling suggested that Google sponsored a secretive project called Project Vivian. The project aimed to counsel employees and discourage them from forming unions.
2022: Russian court orders Google to restore blocked YouTube channels
In 2022, during the invasion of Ukraine, a Russian court ordered Google to restore YouTube channels that had been blocked, with penalties doubling every week for non-compliance. This was part of a broader effort to control online content critical of the Kremlin.
2022: Grace Hopper cable expected to become operational
In 2022, the Grace Hopper cable, which connects landing points in New York (US), Bude (UK) and Bilbao (Spain), and owned by Google, is expected to become operational.
2022: Google aims for zero waste to landfill certification for final assembly sites.
In October 2020, Google also stated that all its final assembly manufacturing sites will achieve a UL 2799 Zero Waste to Landfill certification by 2022, ensuring the majority of waste from manufacturing is recycled.
March 2023: Google releases Bard AI chatbot
In March 2023, Google released Bard (now Gemini), a generative artificial intelligence chatbot, in response to the rise of ChatGPT.
May 1, 2023: Google places ad against Brazilian anti-disinformation law
On May 1, 2023, Google placed an ad against the Brazilian Congressional Bill No. 2630, an anti-disinformation law, on its search homepage in Brazil, urging users to ask representatives to oppose the legislation. The government and judiciary accused Google of undue interference, ordering the ad's removal within two hours under threat of fines.
May 2023: Google announces plans to build two additional data centers in Ohio
In early May 2023, Google announced plans to build two additional data centers in Ohio, specifically in Columbus and Lancaster. These centers will power up the company's tools, including AI technology.
August 2023: Google Joins OpenWallet Foundation
In August 2023, Google became the first major tech company to join the OpenWallet Foundation, which aims to create open-source software for interoperable digital wallets.
2023: Google consumed 24 TWh of electricity, more than some countries
In 2023 Google consumed 24 TWh of electricity, more than countries such as Iceland, Ghana, the Dominican Republic, or Tunisia.
2023: Release of NotebookLM
In 2023, Google released NotebookLM, an online tool for synthesizing documents using Gemini.
2023: Suit brought against Google for monopolizing advertising technology market
In 2023, another suit was brought against Google for illegally monopolizing the advertising technology market. This action is separate from the antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice on October 20, 2020.
2023: Shift in company policy
In 2023, there was a shift in company policy. This shift was referenced in September 2025 when Alphabet announced it would reinstate YouTube creators banned for spreading misinformation, drawing criticism for prioritizing "free expression" over "facts".
March 2024: Announcement of Gemini
In March 2024, Google announced Gemini, a virtual assistant and chatbot. It was positioned as a potential competitor to ChatGPT, unlike Google's previous attempts.
March 2024: Former Google engineer accused of stealing AI information
In March 2024, a former Google software engineer and Chinese national named Linwei Ding was accused of stealing confidential artificial intelligence information from the company and handing it to Chinese corporations.
April 2024: Google Settles Incognito Tracking Lawsuit
In April 2024, Google agreed to settle a lawsuit claiming it secretly tracked the internet use of people who thought they were browsing privately. Under the terms of the settlement Google agreed to destroy billions of data records.
April 2024: AI Training Program Introduced
In April 2024, Google introduced an AI training program specifically designed for its employees to enhance their skills and knowledge in artificial intelligence.
May 2024: Google Cloud misconfiguration leads to deletion of UniSuper's account
In May 2024, a misconfiguration in Google Cloud led to the accidental deletion of UniSuper's $135 billion Australian pension fund account, affecting over half a million members who were unable to access their accounts for a week.
August 2024: Court rules Google held a monopoly in online search and text advertising
In August 2024, District of Columbia U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google held a monopoly in online search and text advertising in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
August 2024: Google loses lawsuit over Internet search monopoly
In August 2024, Google lost a lawsuit, initiated in 2020 in a lower court, after being found to have an illegal monopoly over Internet search. D.C. Circuit Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled that this monopoly violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act.
August 2024: Google informs users of legal obligation to disclose information to U.S. government authorities
In August 2024, Google sent an email to users informing them of its legal obligation to disclose certain confidential information to U.S. government authorities when it receives valid requests from government agencies.
September 10, 2024: Europe's top court imposes €2.4 billion fine on Google
On September 10, 2024, Europe's top court imposed a €2.4 billion fine on Google for abusing its dominance in the shopping comparison market. This marked the conclusion of a case that began in 2009 with a complaint from British firm Foundem.
September 2024: NotebookLM Gains Attention for 'Audio Overview' Feature
In September 2024, Google's NotebookLM gained attention for its 'Audio Overview' feature. This feature generates podcast-like summaries of documents, providing a new way to digest information.
September 2024: CMA provisionally finds Google engaged in anti-competitive practices
In September 2024, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) provisionally found that Google engaged in anti-competitive practices in the online advertising technology market, potentially harming thousands of UK publishers and advertisers.
September 2024: EU Court of Justice finds Google held illegal monopoly in shopping search
In September 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union (EU) found that Google held an illegal monopoly in shopping search and could not avoid paying a €2.4 billion fine. The court ruled that Google's treatment of rival shopping searches was "discriminatory" and violated the Digital Markets Act.
September 18, 2024: Google wins appeal against EU antitrust fine
On September 18, 2024, Alphabet's Google won a €1.49 billion ($1.7 billion) antitrust fine from the EU. The General Court agreed with many of the European Commission's findings but annulled the fine, stating that the Commission failed to consider all relevant factors.
October 8, 2024: U.S. government suggests Google divest parts of its business
On October 8, 2024, the U.S. government suggested it could request Google to divest parts of its business, such as the Chrome browser and Android, due to its alleged monopoly in online search. The Justice Department aimed to limit Google's growing dominance in areas like AI.
October 2024: Google fined by Russian court for allegedly blocking pro-Kremlin propaganda
In October 2024, a local Russian court fined Google a symbolic 2.5 decillion dollars for allegedly blocking pro-Kremlin propaganda. However, no payment was made.
October 31, 2024: Russia fines Google for blocking pro-Russian YouTube channels
On October 31, 2024, the Russian government imposed a "symbolic" fine of $20 decillion on Google for blocking pro-Russian YouTube channels. This action was part of a series of penalties against social media companies accused of hosting content critical of the Kremlin or supportive of Ukraine.
November 2024: Google announces new AI hub in Saudi Arabia
In November 2024, Google announced the establishment of a new AI hub in Saudi Arabia to support the Kingdom's economic growth and technological development as part of its Vision 2030 initiative. This hub is projected to contribute up to $71 billion to Saudi Arabia's economy.
November 2024: Justice Department proposes changes to curb Google's online search monopoly
In November 2024, the Justice Department proposed major changes to curb Google's online search monopoly. These proposals included forcing the company to sell its Chrome browser, share search data with competitors, and end exclusive agreements that make Google the default search engine on devices like iPhones.
2024: 20-Year Agreement to End
In 2004 Page, Brin, and Schmidt agreed to work together at Google for 20 years, until the year 2024.
January 2025: Judge rejects Google's motion to dismiss class-action lawsuit
In January 2025, U.S. federal judge Richard Seeborg rejected Google's motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit claims Google collected data from users who had specifically opted out of tracking.
February 2025: Google drops DEI commitment from annual investor report
In February 2025, Google dropped its commitment to make 'diversity, equity, and inclusion [DEI] part of everything we do' from their annual investor report, following similar actions by other major companies.
March 2025: Google agrees to acquire Wiz for US$32 billion
In March 2025, Google agreed to acquire Wiz, a New York-based cybersecurity startup, for US$32 billion. This is Google's biggest ever acquisition.
April 2025: Trial on antitrust case scheduled
In April 2025, a trial on the antitrust case was scheduled. However, the incoming administration and new DoJ leadership could potentially alter the course of the proceedings.
July 2025: Google receives $200 million contract for AI in the military
In July 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that Google had received a $200 million contract for AI in the military, along with Anthropic, OpenAI, and xAI.
September 5, 2025: European Commission fines Google for breaching EU antitrust rules
On September 5, 2025, the European Commission fined Google €2.95 billion ($3.47 billion), for breaching EU antitrust rules. Regulators say Google abused its dominance by giving preferential treatment to its ad exchange within its publisher ad server and ad-buying tools.
September 2025: Alphabet to reinstate YouTube creators banned for misinformation
In September 2025, Alphabet announced it would reinstate YouTube creators banned for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The company faced criticism for prioritizing "free expression" over "facts", reflecting a shift dating back to 2023.
September 2025: Google opens AI Centre and announces investment in AI research
In September 2025, Google opened their £735m AI Centre in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire and announced their plans for £5 bn investment in AI research, in the same month that Alphabet reached market capitalisation of $3 trillion.
September 2025: Federal jury decides Google must pay $425 million
In September 2025, a federal jury decided that Google must pay $425 million for collecting data from users who had specifically opted out of tracking. Google said it would appeal the decision.
September 2025: Google will not be required to divest Chrome or Android operating system
In September 2025, federal judge Amit Mehta in the United States ruled that Google will not be required to divest Chrome or the Android operating system; however, the ruling barred Google from having exclusive contracts for Google Search, Chrome, Google Assistant and Gemini app products, and ruled Google must share search data with competitors.
2025: Announcement of SynthID Detector
In 2025, Google announced SynthID Detector, a tool that uses watermarking to identify if content (text, images, audio, or video) was generated using Google products.
2025: Google advertising campaigns for Israel
In 2025, Google engaged in a $45 million, six-month contract with Israel to run advertising campaigns. Some Youtube ads aimed to cast doubt on the existence of a famine in Gaza. Despite complaints, Google maintained that the ads did not violate its content policies.
2025: Google funds White House's East Wing demolition and ballroom construction
In 2025, Google was one of the donors who funded the White House's East Wing demolition, and planned building of a ballroom.
2025: Google found to operate a monopoly in online advertising technology
In 2025, the Justice Department alongside 17 other states ruled that Google operates a monopoly in online advertising technology. The case will now move to a remedies stage which may lead to Alphabet, the owner of Google, being broken up.
2025: Google aims for 100% plastic-free and recyclable packaging for hardware products.
In October 2020, the company pledged to make the packaging for its hardware products 100% plastic-free and 100% recyclable by 2025.
2030: Google commits to operating data centers and offices using only carbon-free energy.
In September 2020, Google stated that it is committed to operating its data centers and offices using only carbon-free energy by 2030.
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