In a significant development for antitrust enforcement, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) is reportedly considering drastic measures to address Google’s illegal monopoly on the online search market. This follows a recent court ruling that found the tech giant guilty of monopolistic practices.
The New York Times and Bloomberg News have reported that the DoJ is exploring several remedies, including potentially breaking up Alphabet Inc.’s Google, which has an estimated value of $2 trillion. The ruling deemed Google’s dominance in the search market unlawful, a decision heralded as a major victory for federal regulators battling big tech monopolies.
Among the remedies under consideration is the divestment of Google’s Android operating system. This move could address concerns over Google’s control of the mobile operating system market, which has been integral to its monopolistic strategy. Additionally, there is speculation about a possible sale of Google’s AdWords search advertising program and the Chrome web browser, both of which have been pivotal in solidifying Google’s market dominance.
The Justice Department is also weighing options such as forcing Google to share its data with competitors and implementing measures to prevent the company from leveraging its dominance in artificial intelligence to gain an unfair edge. These steps aim to create a more competitive environment and curb Google’s undue influence over the tech landscape.
A Justice Department spokesperson confirmed that while no final decisions have been made, they are actively evaluating the court’s decision and exploring appropriate actions within the legal framework for antitrust remedies. Google has indicated plans to appeal the ruling and is facing another antitrust lawsuit by the DoJ scheduled to go to trial next month.
The recent court ruling revealed that Google’s monopolistic practices included paying companies like Apple over $26 billion in 2021 alone to maintain its default search engine status in Safari. These agreements were found to unfairly suppress competition, contributing to Google’s illegal monopoly.
The ruling marks a critical moment in the ongoing battle against big tech monopolies. The DoJ’s scrutiny of Google follows similar antitrust actions against other tech giants, including Meta Platforms, Amazon.com, and Apple, each accused of maintaining monopolistic control in their respective markets.
The last major antitrust case involving a tech giant resulted in Microsoft’s 2004 settlement with the Justice Department over its Internet Explorer browser practices, which were deemed to have stifled competition.
As the government considers these transformative measures, the case against Google underscores a broader movement to tackle monopolistic practices and promote fair competition in the technology sector.
