- The U.S. government is considering breaking up Google to prevent it from monopolizing internet search.
- Google faces potential structural changes after being found guilty of maintaining search dominance through illegal tactics.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) is contemplating a historic decision to break up Google to prevent the tech giant from maintaining its monopoly in internet search. The move follows a court ruling in August that found Google guilty of using illegal practices to dominate the search engine market.
The DoJ’s proposal includes “structural requirements” to curb Google’s influence over products like Chrome, Play, and Android, which the company allegedly uses to boost its search engine’s dominance. A formal set of recommendations is expected by November 20, with Google allowed to submit counter-proposals by December 20.
Google responded by warning of potential unintended consequences for U.S. consumers and businesses. Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs, criticized the proposals as “government overreach.”
This court ruling marks a significant setback for Alphabet, Google’s parent company, after a 10-week trial where prosecutors argued that Google secured its dominance by paying billions to companies like Apple and Samsung to make it their default search engine.
Google maintains that users prefer its search engine due to its usefulness, not because of any coercive agreements. Meanwhile, other tech giants like Meta, Amazon, and Apple also face legal challenges related to anti-competitive practices.
These lawsuits are part of the U.S. government’s broader efforts to enhance competition in the tech industry.
