The United States Justice Department announced on Tuesday that it may request a federal judge to mandate Alphabet’s Google to divest significant segments of its business, including its Chrome browser and Android operating system. The move comes after accusations that these assets are instrumental in maintaining Google’s illegal monopoly in online search.
In August, a landmark ruling found that Google, responsible for processing 90% of U.S. internet searches, had built an unlawful monopoly. The Justice Department’s proposed remedies aim to not only dismantle this dominance but also reshape the way Americans access information online. Such measures could potentially reduce Google’s revenue streams while offering rival companies a chance to expand their market presence.
“Fully remedying these harms requires not only ending Google’s control of distribution today but also ensuring Google cannot control the distribution of tomorrow,” stated the Justice Department.
Prosecutors emphasized that the proposed actions seek to prevent Google’s historical dominance from extending into the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence. By addressing these concerns, the Department aims to foster a more competitive landscape in emerging technologies.
Additionally, the Justice Department might urge the court to halt Google’s practice of paying to have its search engine preinstalled or set as the default on new devices. In 2021, Google spent $26.3 billion on such agreements with companies like Apple and other device manufacturers, a strategy that has significantly bolstered its market share.
Google, planning to appeal the ruling, responded in a corporate blog post, describing the proposed remedies as “radical” and asserting that they “go far beyond the specific legal issues in this case.”
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
