Full History Of Google In Timeline From 1996

January 1996: Google Began as Research Project

In January 1996, Google began as a research project by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were both PhD students at Stanford University.

1996: Development of RankDex

In 1996, Robin Li developed RankDex, a page-ranking algorithm that influenced Google's PageRank.

February 1998: Ram Shriram Invested in Google

In February 1998, entrepreneur Ram Shriram invested $250,000 in Google after being approached by Page and Brin for funding and counsel.

August 1998: Initial Investment from Andy Bechtolsheim

In August 1998, Google received an initial investment of $100,000 from Andy Bechtolsheim, co-founder of Sun Microsystems, motivating the company's incorporation.

September 4, 1998: Google Founded

On September 4, 1998, Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were PhD students at Stanford University.

1998: Small investments

After some additional, small investments through the end of 1998 to early 1999.

1998: Setting up the search engine

In 1998, Page and Brin would also use their friend Susan Wojcicki's garage as their office when the search engine was set up.

1998: First Paper About the project

In 1998, Rajeev Motwani and Terry Winograd later co-authored with Page and Brin the first paper about the project, describing PageRank and the initial prototype of the Google search engine.

1998: First Google Doodle

Since 1998, Google has been designing temporary alternate logos to celebrate holidays, events, achievements and people. The first Google Doodle was in honor of the Burning Man Festival of 1998.

March 1999: Google Moved to Palo Alto

In March 1999, Google moved its offices to Palo Alto, California, a hub for Silicon Valley technology start-ups.

June 7, 1999: $25 million round of funding

On June 7, 1999, a new $25 million round of funding was announced, with major investors including the venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins and Sequoia Capital.

April 1, 2000: First April Fools' Day joke: Google MentalPlex

On April 1, 2000, Google's first April Fools' Day joke was Google MentalPlex which allegedly featured the use of mental power to search the web.

June 2000: Google Became Default Search Engine for Yahoo!

In June 2000, Google became the default search engine provider for Yahoo!, replacing Inktomi.

2000: Dennis Hwang designs Google Doodle

In 2000, Larry Page and Sergey Brin asked then-intern Dennis Hwang to design a logo for Bastille Day. From that point onward, Doodles have been organized and created by a team of employees termed "Doodlers".

2001: Eric Schmidt Hired as CEO of Google

In 2001, Eric Schmidt was hired as the chairman and CEO of Google, proposed by John Doerr from Kleiner Perkins.

October 2002: First use of the verb "google" on television

In an October 2002 episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the verb 'google' was used for the first time on television.

2002: Launch of Froogle (later Google Shopping)

In 2002, Google expanded its search services to include shopping, launching a service originally called Froogle.

2002: Google News service launched

In 2002, Google launched Google News, an automated service that summarizes news articles from various websites. Google also hosts Google Books, a service which searches the text found in books in its database.

2003: Google Leased the Googleplex

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: Google's lobbying spending rank

In 2003, Google ranked 213th in lobbying spending.

August 19, 2004: Google Became a Public Company

On August 19, 2004, Google became a public company via an initial public offering (IPO), listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol GOOG.

2004: Google Forms Google.org

In 2004, Google formed the not-for-profit philanthropic Google.org, with a start-up fund of $1 billion. The mission of the organization is to create awareness about climate change, global public health, and global poverty.

2004: Google IPO

In 2004, Google went public via an initial public offering (IPO).

2005: Google Earth launched

Google Earth, launched in 2005, allows users to see high-definition satellite pictures from all over the world for free through client software downloaded to their computers.

2005: Google reports 700% increase in profit

In 2005, Google reported a 700% increase in profit, largely due to large companies shifting their advertising strategies from newspapers, magazines, and television to the Internet.

2005: Google's anti-corporate philosophy

In 2005, articles suggested that Google had lost its anti-corporate, no evil philosophy. In an effort to maintain the company's unique culture, Google designated a Chief Culture Officer.

2005: Innovation Time Off

In 2005, half of all new product launches in the second half of the year originated from the Innovation Time Off program, where Google engineers are encouraged to spend 20% of their work time on projects that interest them.

October 9, 2006: Google Acquired YouTube

On October 9, 2006, Google acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion in Google stock.

October 2006: Google Announces Plans to Install Solar Panels

In October 2006, Google announced plans to install thousands of solar panels to provide up to 1.6 Megawatts of electricity, aimed at meeting approximately 30% of the campus' energy needs.

November 2006: Google Opens Office 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: Google's advertising revenue for 2006

For the 2006 fiscal year, the company reported $10.492 billion in total advertising revenues and only $112 million in licensing and other revenues.

2006: Launch of Google Finance

In 2006, Google expanded its search services to include finance, launching Google Finance.

2006: Scott Hassan Founded Willow Garage

In 2006, Scott Hassan, the original lead programmer for Google Search, founded the company Willow Garage focusing on robotics.

2006: Google added to dictionaries as a verb

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 of click fraud in Google Ads and AdSense

Industry reports in 2006 claimed that approximately 14 to 20 percent of clicks on Google Ads and AdSense were fraudulent or invalid, causing advertisers to pay money to Google unduly.

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 for wireless-spectrum auction

On July 20, 2007, Google bids $4.6 billion for the 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, primarily because of strong sales and earnings in the online advertising market.

2007: Google ranked first in the best companies to work for

In 2007, Fortune magazine ranked Google first in their list of best companies to work for.

2007: Google announces TiSP

In 2007, Google announced a free Internet service called TiSP, or Toilet Internet Service Provider, where one obtained a connection by flushing one end of a fiber-optic cable down their toilet. This was an April Fool's joke.

2007: Google launches AdSense for Mobile

In 2007, Google launched "AdSense for Mobile", taking advantage of the emerging mobile advertising market.

2007: Google's tax avoidance strategies

Starting in 2007, Google used various tax avoidance strategies.

March 11, 2008: Google Acquired DoubleClick

On March 11, 2008, Google acquired DoubleClick for $3.1 billion.

2008: Google ranked first in the best companies to work for

In 2008, Fortune magazine ranked Google first in their list of best companies to work for.

2008: Google Announces "Project 10"

In 2008, Google announced its "project 10", accepting ideas for how to help the community and then allowing Google users to vote on their favorites.

November 2009: Google Search market share in the United States

According to comScore market research from November 2009, Google Search held a dominant position in the United States search engine market, with a market share of 65.6%.

2009: Google reportedly joins PRISM

According to unnamed sources, Google joined the PRISM program in 2009, a massive electronic surveillance program by the NSA.

2009: Foundem Complaint Initiates Case Against Google

In 2009, British firm Foundem filed a complaint which initiated a case against Google, eventually leading to Europe's top court imposing a €2.4 billion fine on Google in September 2024 for abusing its dominance in the shopping comparison market.

2009: Google ranked fourth in the best companies to work for

In 2009, Fortune magazine ranked Google fourth in their list of best companies to work for.

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, citing it as an eco-friendly alternative.

January 2010: Release of Nexus One

In January 2010, Google released the Nexus One, which was 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: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Grants Google Authorization

In February 2010, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted Google an authorization to buy and sell energy at market rates, allowing the company to engage in energy trading.

July 2010: Google Signs Agreement with Iowa Wind Farm

In July 2010, Google signed an agreement with an Iowa wind farm to buy 114 megawatts of power for 20 years, furthering its commitment to renewable energy.

2010: YouTube reportedly joins PRISM

According to unnamed sources, YouTube joined the PRISM program in 2010, a massive electronic surveillance program by the NSA.

2010: Google saved in taxes

Between 2007 and 2010, Google saved $3.1 billion in taxes by shuttling non-U.S. profits through Ireland and the Netherlands and then to Bermuda.

2010: Google ranked fourth in the best companies to work for

In 2010, Fortune magazine ranked Google fourth in their list of best companies to work for. Google was also nominated in 2010 to be the world's most attractive employer to graduating students in the Universum Communications talent attraction index.

May 2011: Google Reached One Billion Monthly Unique Visitors

In May 2011, the number of monthly unique visitors to Google surpassed one billion for the first time.

September 2011: Google Discloses Electricity Usage

In September 2011, Google disclosed that it "continuously uses enough electricity to power 200,000 homes", which is almost 260 million watts.

2011: Google Handled 3 Billion Searches Per Day

By 2011, Google was handling approximately 3 billion searches per day.

2011: Google's revenue from advertising programs

In 2011, 96% of Google's revenue was derived from its advertising programs.

2011: Launch of Google Flights

In 2011, Google expanded its search services to include flights, launching Google Flights.

2011: Introduction of the Chromebook

In 2011, the Chromebook, which runs on ChromeOS, was introduced.

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May 2012: Google Acquired Motorola Mobility

In May 2012, Google acquired Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion.

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's departure

Marissa Mayer, Google's vice-president of Search Products and User Experience, left Google in July 2012.

September 24, 2012: Launch of Google for Entrepreneurs

On September 24, 2012, Google launched Google for Entrepreneurs. This is a largely not-for-profit business incubator providing startups with co-working spaces and assistance to startup founders.

2012: Google ranked first in the best companies to work for

In 2012, Fortune magazine ranked Google first in their list of best companies to work for.

2012: Google generates $50 billion in annual revenue for the first time

In 2012, Google generated $50 billion in annual revenue for the first time, generating $38 billion the previous year.

2012: Google ranked 2nd in campaign donations

In 2012, Google ranked 2nd in campaign donations of technology and Internet sections.

2012: French investigation into Google's transfer pricing

In 2012, Google's transfer pricing practices sparked a French investigation.

January 2013: Larry Page comments on 2012 revenue

In January 2013, then-CEO Larry Page commented that revenues were up 36% year-on-year, and 8% quarter-on-quarter.

June 2013: Google Acquired Waze

In June 2013, Google acquired Waze for $966 million, integrating its social features with Google Maps.

June 2013: Media reports about PRISM surveillance program

In June 2013, media reports identified Google as a participant in the NSA's PRISM electronic surveillance program, sparking controversy.

July 2013: Introduction of Chromecast

In July 2013, Google introduced the Chromecast dongle, enabling users to stream content from their smartphones to televisions.

September 2013: Google to Purchase Electricity from Happy Hereford Wind Farm

In September 2013, Google announced that it would purchase all the electricity produced by the not-yet-built 240-megawatt Happy Hereford wind farm.

September 19, 2013: Google Launched Calico

On September 19, 2013, Google announced the launch of a new company, called Calico, 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 compared to the previous quarter. $10.8 billion of this came from Google's Internet business.

November 2013: Google Announces Plans for New London Headquarter

In November 2013, Google announced its plans for a new London headquarter. The office was planned to be a 1 million square foot office able to accommodate 4,500 employees.

2013: Start of Period Covered by Google Gender Discrimination Settlement

2013 marks the start of the period covered by the $118 million settlement Google agreed to pay in June 2022 to 15,550 female employees working in California. The settlement resolved a lawsuit that started in 2017.

2013: Second most valuable brand in the world

According to Interbrand's annual Best Global Brands report, Google has been the second most valuable brand in the world in 2013.

2013: Google's lobbying spending rank

In 2013, Google ranked 5th in lobbying spending.

2013: Class action lawsuit against Google

In 2013, a class action against several Silicon Valley companies, including Google, was filed for alleged "no cold call" agreements which restrained 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 Acquired DeepMind Technologies

On January 26, 2014, Google announced it had agreed to acquire DeepMind Technologies, an artificial intelligence company from London.

June 2014: Announcement of Google Cardboard

In June 2014, Google announced Google Cardboard, which is a simple cardboard viewer that allows users to place their smartphones in a special front compartment to view virtual reality (VR) media.

Google Cardboard,Topmaxions 3D VR Virtual Reality DIY VR Headset for 3D Movies and Games Compatible with Android & Apple Up to 6 Inch Easy Setup Machine

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2014: Second most valuable brand in the world

According to Interbrand's annual Best Global Brands report, Google has been the second most valuable brand in the world in 2014.

April 2015: Announcement of Project Fi

In April 2015, Google announced Project Fi, which is a mobile virtual network operator that combines Wi-Fi and cellular networks.

May 2015: Google Webmaster Tools rebranded as Google Search Console

In May 2015, Google Webmaster Tools was rebranded as Google Search Console, allowing webmasters to check the sitemap, crawl rate, and security issues of their websites, as well as optimize their website's visibility.

May 2015: Google Announces New Campus in Hyderabad, India

In May 2015, Google announced its intention to create its own campus in Hyderabad, India, which was reported to be the company's largest campus outside the United States, with the capacity to accommodate 13,000 employees.

August 10, 2015: Google Announced Reorganization as Alphabet Inc.

On August 10, 2015, Google announced plans to reorganize its various interests as a conglomerate named Alphabet Inc.

October 2015: Adoption of "Do the right thing" motto

In October 2015, the phrase "Do the right thing" was adopted as a related motto in the Alphabet corporate code of conduct.

October 24, 2015: Sundar Pichai Appointed CEO of Google

On October 24, 2015, Sundar Pichai was appointed as the CEO of Google, replacing Larry Page, who then became the CEO of Alphabet Inc.

2015: Second most valuable brand in the world

According to Interbrand's annual Best Global Brands report, Google has been the second most valuable brand in the world in 2015.

2015: DeepMind's AlphaGo Defeated a 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 symbol change for Alphabet Inc.

In 2015, Google's ticker symbols (GOOGL and GOOG) on the NASDAQ stock exchange and (GGQ1) on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange began to refer to Alphabet Inc., Google's holding company, since the fourth quarter.

January 2016: Google reaches settlement with the UK

In January 2016, Google reached a settlement with the UK to pay £130m in back taxes plus higher taxes in future.

March 15, 2016: Introduction of Google Analytics 360 Suite

On March 15, 2016, Google announced the introduction of Google Analytics 360 Suite, a set of integrated data and marketing analytics products designed for enterprise-class marketers.

July 2016: Gartner Estimates Google's Server Count

In a July 2016 report, Gartner estimated that Google had 2.5 million servers at the time, highlighting the scale of its data infrastructure.

October 2016: Announcement of Daydream View

In October 2016, Google announced Daydream View, which is a lightweight VR viewer that allows users to place their smartphones in the front hinge to view VR media.

Google Daydream View - VR Headset for Smartphone (Slate)

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December 2016: Google Announces 100% Renewable Energy Goal

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, making it the world's largest corporate buyer of renewable power.

2016: Second most valuable brand in the world

According to Interbrand's annual Best Global Brands report, Google has been the second most valuable brand in the world in 2016.

2016: Google Changed Contract Practices

Google noted that it had already changed its contract practices in 2016, before winning a €1.49 billion ($1.7 billion) antitrust fine from the European Union in 18 September 2024.

2016: Discontinuation of Nexus line

In 2016, the "Nexus" branding of phones and tablets was discontinued and replaced by the "Pixel" brand.

Google Pixel 9 - Unlocked Android Smartphone with Gemini, 24-Hour Battery, Advanced Camera, and 6.3" Actua Display - Obsidian - 128 GB

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May 2017: Google enables "Personal" tab in Google Search

In May 2017, Google enabled a new "Personal" tab in Google Search, allowing users to search for content within their Google accounts' services, including email messages from Gmail and photos from Google Photos.

June 2017: Google Submits Plans for New London Headquarter

In June 2017, Google submitted plans for the new headquarter to the Camden Council.

June 27, 2017: EU Fines Google Record Amount

On June 27, 2017, the company received a record fine of €2.42 billion from the European Union for "promoting its own shopping comparison service at the top of search results."

August 8, 2017: James Damore Fired by Google

On August 8, 2017, Google fired employee James Damore after he distributed a memo throughout the company arguing against diversity and inclusion initiatives.

November 2017: Google Buys Wind Power to Reach 100% Renewable Energy

In November 2017, Google bought 536 megawatts of wind power. The purchase made the firm reach 100% renewable energy.

2017: Google for Jobs enhanced search feature

A job search product has existed since before 2017, Google for Jobs is an enhanced search feature that aggregates listings from job boards and career sites.

2017: Google channeled billions to Bermuda to reduce tax bill

In 2017, Google channeled $22.7 billion from the Netherlands to Bermuda to reduce its tax bill.

2017: Google works with the Department of Defense on drone software

In 2017, Google collaborated with the United States Department of Defense on drone software through Project Maven, which could potentially improve the accuracy of drone strikes.

2017: Google's revenue from clicks in 2017

In 2017, forty-six percent of Google's profit came from clicks (cost per clicks), amounting to US$109,652 million. This includes AdMob, AdSense, and DoubleClick AdExchange.

2017: Women Sue Google for Gender Discrimination

In 2017, three women sued Google, accusing the company of violating California's Equal Pay Act by underpaying its female employees. This led to a $118 million settlement in June 2022.

January 8, 2018: Lawsuit alleges Google discrimination

In a lawsuit filed January 8, 2018, multiple employees and job applicants alleged Google discriminated against a class defined by their "conservative political views[,] male gender[,] and/or [...] Caucasian or Asian race".

March 2018: Alphabet Buys Chelsea Market Building

In March 2018, Google's parent company Alphabet purchased the Chelsea Market building for $2.4 billion, marking one of New York's most expensive real estate transactions for a single building.

April 2018: Google employees protest Project Maven

In April 2018, thousands of Google employees signed a letter urging CEO Sundar Pichai to end the company's controversial contract with the Pentagon related to Project Maven.

July 2018: Accusations of YouTube Slowdown on Firefox

In July 2018, Mozilla program manager Chris Peterson accused Google of intentionally slowing down YouTube performance on Firefox.

July 18, 2018: European Commission fines Google

On July 18, 2018, the European Commission 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: Report on Google's Censored Search Engine for China

In August 2018, a report by The Intercept revealed that Google was developing a censored version of its search engine, known as Dragonfly, for the People's Republic of China. This version would blacklist websites and search terms related to human rights, democracy, and religion.

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 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 Appeals EU Antitrust Fine

On October 9, 2018, Google confirmed that it had appealed the €4.34 billion fine imposed by the European Commission for breaching EU antitrust rules in relation to Android.

October 25, 2018: The New York Times publishes exposé on Andy Rubin

On October 25, 2018, The New York Times published an exposé titled "How Google Protected Andy Rubin, the 'Father of Android'". The article detailed the protection Andy Rubin, the creator of Android, received at Google amidst allegations of sexual misconduct.

November 1, 2018: Google employees stage global walk-out

On November 1, 2018, over 20,000 Google employees and contractors globally protested the company's handling of sexual harassment complaints.

November 2018: Google Announces Expansion of New York City Office

In November 2018, Google announced its plans to expand its New York City office to accommodate 12,000 employees, significantly increasing its presence in the city.

January 21, 2019: French Regulator Fines Google for GDPR Breach

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. The judgment claimed Google had failed to sufficiently inform users of its methods for collecting data to personalize advertising.

March 2019: Temporary workers and contractors

As of March 2019, Google used about 121,000 temporary workers and contractors in addition to its 100,000+ full-time employees.

March 19, 2019: Google announces its entry into the video game market with Google Stadia

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 fine on Google for preventing rivals from being able to "compete and innovate fairly" in the online advertising market.

April 2019: Accusations of Sabotaging Firefox Browser

In April 2019, former Mozilla executive Jonathan Nightingale accused Google of intentionally and systematically sabotaging the Firefox browser over the past decade in order to boost adoption of Google Chrome.

June 3, 2019: US Department of Justice announces antitrust investigation into Google

On June 3, 2019, the United States Department of Justice announced that it would investigate Google for potential antitrust violations.

September 2019: Google Announces Wind and Solar Investment

In September 2019, Google's chief executive announced plans for a $2 billion wind and solar investment, to grow their green energy profile by 40%.

November 15, 2019: Completion of Curie Submarine Cable

On November 15, 2019, Google completed its first private submarine communications cable, named Curie, connecting California with Chile to enhance its network infrastructure.

November 2019: Investigation into Project Nightingale Begins

In November 2019, the Office for Civil Rights of the United States Department of Health and Human Services began investigation into Project Nightingale, to assess whether the "mass collection of individuals' medical records" complied with HIPAA.

December 3, 2019: Sundar Pichai also became the 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, formerly the chief operating officer of PayPal, was appointed as Google's new commerce chief. His role does not directly involve Google Pay.

2019: Google ends Project Maven contract

In 2019, Google decided not to renew its contract with the Department of Defense for Project Maven, following employee protests.

2019: Linwei Ding Hired by Google

In 2019, Linwei Ding was hired by Google as a software engineer, before being accused of stealing confidential AI information from the company in March 2024.

2019: /r/degoogle Online Community Coalesces

In 2019, a hub for critics of Google dedicated to abstaining from using Google products coalesced in the Reddit online community /r/degoogle. The DeGoogle grassroots campaign continues to grow.

2019: Accusations of retaliation against internal activists

In 2019, some Google workers accused the company of retaliating against internal activists.

2019: Google runs free online courses

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 workers union

On January 25, 2020, Alpha Global, an international workers union of Google employees, was announced. The coalition comprised 13 unions representing workers in 10 countries and is affiliated with the UNI Global Union. This formation responded to allegations of mistreatment and a toxic workplace culture at Google.

April 2020: Google announces cost-cutting measures due to COVID-19 pandemic

In April 2020, Google announced several cost-cutting measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including slowing down hiring, recalibrating investments, and reducing non-essential marketing and travel. Many employees began working from home and some roles were permanently converted to remote positions.

June 2020: $5 Billion Lawsuit Filed Against Google over Incognito Mode

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 on Google

In July 2020, U.S. Congressional hearings were held regarding Google's business practices, preceding the antitrust lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice in October 2020.

July 2020: Google Settles Google+ Data Exposure Lawsuit

In July 2020, the litigation regarding the Google+ data exposure was settled for $7.5 million, with claimants receiving payouts between $5 and $12 each.

September 2020: Google Offsets All Carbon Emissions Since 1998

In September 2020, Google announced it had retroactively offset all of its carbon emissions since the company's foundation in 1998 and committed to operating its data centers and offices using only carbon-free energy by 2030.

September 30, 2020: Alphabet Inc. employee count

As of September 30, 2020, Alphabet Inc. had 132,121 employees, with more than 100,000 working for Google. Google's 2020 diversity report states that 32 percent of its workforce are women and 68 percent are men, with the ethnicity of its workforce being predominantly white (51.7%) and Asian (41.9%).

October 2020: Google Workspace rebrand

In October 2020, G Suite was rebranded as Google Workspace, a monthly subscription offering for organizations and businesses.

October 2020: Google Pledges Plastic-Free Packaging

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 that the company had abused its monopoly position 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 United States 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: Lawsuit started over Internet search monopoly

In 2020 a lawsuit started in lower court alleging Google had an illegal monopoly over Internet search which Google would later lose in August 2024.

2020: Google overhauls its global tax structure

In 2020, Google said it had overhauled its controversial global tax structure and consolidated all of its intellectual property holdings back to the U.S.

2020: Google services experience multiple outages

In 2020, Google services experienced multiple outages, including one in August that affected Google Drive, one in November affecting YouTube, and one in December affecting the entire suite of Google applications. All three outages were resolved within hours.

2020: FBI Used Google Location Data in Arson Investigation

In 2020, the FBI used a geofence warrant to request location data from Google about Android devices near the Seattle Police Officers Guild building following an arson attempt during Black Lives Matter protests. Google provided anonymized location data.

2020: Wiz cofounded in 2020 by Assaf Rappaport

Wiz, a company located in the U.S. and Israel, was cofounded in 2020 by Assaf Rappaport.

January 2021: Google threatens to close search engine in Australia over proposed legislation

In January 2021, the Australian Government proposed legislation requiring Google and Facebook to pay media companies for their content. In response, Google threatened to shut down access to its search engine in Australia.

March 2021: Google spends millions on Ubisoft ports for Google Stadia

In March 2021, Google reportedly paid $20 million for Ubisoft ports on Google Stadia, as part of a larger investment of "tens of millions of dollars" to bring major publishers' games to Stadia.

March 2021: Google Must Face Incognito Mode Lawsuit

The lawsuit against Google alleging that Chrome's Incognito browsing mode still collects user history became known in March 2021 when a federal judge denied Google's request to dismiss the case, ruling that they must face the group's charges.

April 2021: Details of "Project Bernanke" revealed

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 competitors in the ad services market. This information was revealed in documents related to an antitrust lawsuit filed against Google.

September 2021: Australian government plans to curb Google's targeted ad sales

In September 2021, the Australian government announced plans to limit Google's ability to sell targeted ads, citing concerns about the company's monopoly on the market and its impact on publishers, advertisers, and consumers.

2021: Founding of the Alphabet Workers Union

In 2021, the Alphabet Workers Union, composed mostly of Google employees, was founded.

January 6, 2022: France Fines Google for Cookie Non-Compliance

On January 6, 2022, France's data privacy regulatory body CNIL fined Alphabet's Google 150 million euros (US$169 million) for not allowing its Internet users an easy refusal of Cookies along with Facebook.

February 2022: Google Announces Fund to Expand Skills Training and Job Placement

In February 2022, Google announced a $100 million fund to expand skills training and job placement for low-income Americans, in conjunction with non-profits Year Up, Social Finance, and Merit America.

May 2022: Google acquires MicroLED display tech startup Raxium

In May 2022, Google acquired Raxium, a California-based startup specializing in MicroLED display technology development and manufacturing. Raxium joined Google's Devices and Services team.

June 2022: Google Agrees to Pay $118 Million in Gender Discrimination Settlement

In June 2022, Google agreed to pay a $118 million settlement to 15,550 female employees working in California since 2013, resolving a lawsuit accusing the company of violating California's Equal Pay Act by underpaying its female employees.

September 14, 2022: Google Loses Appeal of €4.125 Billion Fine

On September 14, 2022, Google lost the appeal of a €4.125 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

In December 2022, Google launched OSV-Scanner, a Go tool designed to identify security vulnerabilities in open-source software, leveraging a large vulnerability database to protect against supply chain attacks.

2022: Google Reportedly Paid Apple $22 Billion to Remain Default Search Engine on Safari

Google reportedly paid Apple $22 billion in 2022 to maintain its position as the default search engine on Safari. This deal underscores the intense competition in the tech industry for dominance in the search market.

2022: Google shares $9 billion Pentagon contract

In 2022, Google shared a $9 billion contract from the Pentagon for cloud computing with Amazon, Microsoft, and Oracle.

2022: Google begins accepting requests to remove personal information from search results

In 2022, Google started allowing users to request the removal of phone numbers, physical addresses, and email addresses from its search results, expanding its previous policy of only removing confidential data.

2022: Russian Court Orders Google to Restore Channels

In 2022, during the invasion of Ukraine, a Russian court had ordered Google to restore the pro-Russian YouTube channels which they had blocked. This occurred before the government imposed a "symbolic" fine of $20 decillion on Google for blocking the channels on October 31, 2024.

2022: National Labor Relations Board Ruling on Project Vivian

In a 2022 National Labor Relations Board ruling, court documents suggested that Google sponsored a secretive project—Project Vivian—to counsel its employees and to discourage them from forming unions.

2022: Google Announces Donation to Support Ukrainian Citizens

Responding to the humanitarian crisis after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Google announced a $15 million donation to support Ukrainian citizens and transformed its office in Warsaw into a help center for refugees.

March 2023: Google releases Bard in response to ChatGPT

In March 2023, Google released Bard (now Gemini), a generative artificial intelligence chatbot, as a direct response to the rise of ChatGPT.

May 1, 2023: Google Ad Against Brazilian Anti-Disinformation Bill

On May 1, 2023, Google placed an ad against the anti-disinformation Brazilian Congressional Bill No. 2630 on its search homepage in Brazil, calling on users to ask representatives to oppose the legislation. The government and judiciary accused Google of undue interference and ordered the ad's removal, with potential fines for non-compliance. Google promptly removed the ad.

May 2023: Google announces plans for two new data centers in Ohio

In early May 2023, Google announced its plans to build two additional data centers in Ohio, located in Columbus and Lancaster. These centers will support Google's tools, including AI technology, and represent an investment exceeding $2 billion in the state.

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's Electricity Consumption in 2023

In 2023, Google consumed 24 TWh of electricity, more than countries such as Iceland, Ghana, the Dominican Republic, or Tunisia.

2023: Google released NotebookLM

In 2023, Google released NotebookLM, an online tool for synthesizing documents using Gemini.

2023: Another Suit Brought Against Google

In 2023, another suit was brought against Google for illegally monopolizing the advertising technology market, before Google was found to hold a monopoly in online search and text advertising in August 2024.

March 2024: Google Bard compared to ChatGPT

In March 2024, Google had used virtual assistants and chatbots, such as Google Bard. Bard, however, had not been seen as a legitimate competitors to ChatGPT.

March 2024: Google Photos Used in Facial Recognition Program

In March 2024, The New York Times reported that Google Photos was being used in a facial recognition program by Unit 8200, a surveillance unit of the Israeli Defense Forces, to surveil Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amid the Israel-Hamas War. A Google spokesman commented that the service is free and "does not provide identities for unknown people in photographs."

March 2024: Google Engineer Accused of Stealing AI Information

In March 2024, former Google software engineer Linwei Ding was accused of stealing confidential artificial intelligence information and handing it to Chinese corporations. He allegedly stole over 500 files over 5 years. Google notified the FBI after discovering Ding's contact with Chinese state-owned companies.

March 20, 2024: Google Fined by French Regulators for AI Training

On March 20, 2024, Google was fined approximately $270 million by French regulators for using content from news outlets in France without proper disclosure to train its AI, Bard (now renamed Gemini).

April 2024: Google Agrees to Settle Incognito Mode Tracking Lawsuit

In April 2024, Google agreed to settle the 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: Google introduced an artificial intelligence training program

In April 2024, Google introduced an artificial intelligence training program for Google employees.

April 18, 2024: Google Fires Employees for Protesting Project Nimbus

On April 18, 2024, Google dismissed 28 employees who participated in protests against the company's involvement in Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion contract with the Israeli government to provide cloud computing and AI infrastructure. The protesting employees staged sit-ins at Google's offices.

May 2024: Google Cloud Misconfiguration Leads to UniSuper Account Deletion

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. The outage was attributed to a cloud service error and not a cyberattack. UniSuper and Google Cloud executives issued a joint apology.

August 5, 2024: Google Monopoly Ruling

On August 5, 2024, D.C. Circuit Court Judge Amit P. Mehta ruled that Google held an illegal monopoly over Internet search.

August 2024: Google Found to Hold 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 to Disclose Confidential Information to U.S. Government

In August 2024, Google informed users of its legal obligation to disclose certain confidential information to U.S. government authorities when it receives valid requests, even if the information is confidential to users. Google will request confidential treatment of such information from the government.

August 2024: Google loses lawsuit over illegal search monopoly

In August 2024, Google lost a lawsuit that began in 2020 in a lower court, as it was found that the company had an illegal monopoly over Internet search. The D.C. Circuit Court Judge Amit Mehta held that this monopoly violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act.

September 2024: NotebookLM gains attention for "Audio Overview" feature

In September 2024, Google's NotebookLM gained attention for its "Audio Overview" feature, which generates podcast-like summaries of documents.

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. Google rejected the findings as flawed. If found guilty, Google could face penalties.

September 2024: EU Court of Justice finds Google held illegal shopping search monopoly

In September 2024, the EU Court of Justice found that Google held an illegal monopoly with regards to its shopping search, and could not avoid paying a €2.4 billion fine. The court determined that Google's treatment of rival shopping searches was "discriminatory" and violated the Digital Markets Act.

September 2024: Europe's Top Court Imposes €2.4 Billion Fine on Google

On 10 September 2024, Europe's top court imposed a €2.4 billion fine on Google for abusing its dominance in the shopping comparison market, marking the conclusion of a case that began in 2009 with a complaint from British firm Foundem.

September 2024: Google Wins Antitrust Fine Appeal, Qualcomm Unsuccessful

On 18 September 2024, Alphabet's Google won a €1.49 billion antitrust fine appeal from the European Union. The General Court annulled the Google fine, stating that the Commission failed to consider all relevant factors and did not demonstrate harm to innovation or consumers. Meanwhile, Qualcomm saw its fine reduced slightly but failed to overturn the ruling regarding its predatory pricing against Icera.

October 8, 2024: U.S. Government Suggests Google Divest Parts of 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 Russia for allegedly blocking pro-Kremlin propaganda

In October 2024, Google was fined by Russia with 2.5 decillion dollars for allegedly blocking pro-Kremlin propaganda.

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.

November 2024: Google announces new AI hub in Saudi Arabia

In November 2024, Google announced the establishment of a new artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Saudi Arabia, aiming 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 by advancing AI-driven solutions and training local talent.

November 2024: Justice Department Proposes Changes to Curb Google's Monopoly

In November 2024, the Justice Department proposed major changes to curb Google's online search monopoly, including 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: Agreed term of Page, Brin and Schmidt

At the IPO in 2004, Page, Brin and Schmidt agreed to work together at Google for 20 years, until the year 2024.

2024: Previous deal to acquire Wiz fell apart

In 2024, Alphabet tried to close a deal for only $23 billion USD to acquire Wiz but this fell apart due to concerns about regulatory hurdles, among other issues.

February 2025: Google Drops DEI Commitment

In February 2025, Google removed its pledge to make "diversity, equity, and inclusion part of everything we do" from its annual investor report, following similar actions by other major companies.

March 2025: Google to acquire Wiz for $32 billion

In March 2025, Google agreed to acquire Wiz, a cloud-computing cybersecurity startup, for $32 billion USD in cash. The company, cofounded in 2020 by Assaf Rappaport, is backed by Silicon Valley venture capitalists and partnered with Amazon and Microsoft.

April 2025: Trial Scheduled for Google Antitrust Case

A trial on the Google antitrust case was scheduled for April 2025, though the incoming administration and new DoJ leadership could potentially alter the course of the proceedings.

2030: Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 Initiative

In November 2024, Google announced the establishment of a new artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Saudi Arabia, aiming to support the Kingdom's economic growth and technological development as part of its Vision 2030 initiative.