The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is preparing to ask a federal judge to force Google to divest key products, including its Chrome browser and Android operating system, as part of sweeping remedies to address the company’s dominance in online search.
Focus on Antitrust Remedies
The DOJ’s proposal, expected to be filed Wednesday, builds on its initial plan last month to:
- Compel Google to share search data with competitors.
- Restrict its ability to use search data to train generative AI models.
- Prevent payments to partners, like Apple, for making Google the default search engine.
These remedies follow a ruling earlier this year by Judge Amit Mehta, who found Google guilty of illegally maintaining its monopoly through exclusive deals with device manufacturers and browser developers.
Implications of Divesting Chrome and Android
If enforced, the divestments would fundamentally reshape Google’s business:
- Chrome: Losing control of the world’s most widely used browser, which holds nearly two-thirds of the U.S. market.
- Android: Separating from the mobile operating system that powers the majority of smartphones worldwide.
Google has argued that divesting Chrome would harm consumers, citing the immense costs of maintaining browser security and competitiveness.
Creating Space for Competitors
The DOJ also aims to foster competition in the search and AI markets. Its plan includes creating opportunities for independent AI companies to enter the search market and build the next generation of search technologies without Google’s influence.
Financial Impact of Search Contracts
Google’s agreements to make its search engine the default on devices, including payments of over $20 billion annually to Apple, are central to the DOJ’s legal challenge. These contracts significantly bolster Google’s dominance, handling more than 90% of global search queries.
Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has vowed to appeal the liability ruling and will likely challenge any divestment decision. The protracted legal battle could extend for years.
Broader Antitrust Actions
Google’s case is part of a wider crackdown on Big Tech by U.S. regulators, with ongoing lawsuits against:
- Apple: Over alleged monopolization of the smartphone market.
- Meta: For anti-competitive behavior.
- Amazon: Targeting its marketplace practices.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also plans to investigate Microsoft’s cloud business.
Uncertain Future Under Trump Administration
The outcome of the Google case faces uncertainty as President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in January. It remains unclear whether his administration will continue the aggressive antitrust actions of the Biden administration or adopt a more lenient approach to tech giants.
Judge Mehta is expected to rule on remedies by mid-2025, potentially reshaping the landscape of the tech industry. Meanwhile, the case will serve as a critical test for antitrust enforcement in the digital age.
