Can you cost people money by clicking their Google ads?

[Elspeth]

If you google someone (or some company) and then select that person or company's sponsored link at the top of the page, will it cost that company money?

[biccat]

Depends on how their contract with Google is structured. Some companies are charged by Google on a per-click basis, some monitor transactions from Google (actual business won), and some just pay a flat rate.

In theory, sure. Determining if that is actually the case is somewhat more dubious.

Also, that would probably be considered illegal in most jurisdictions.