US weighs breaking up Google to curb search monopoly

The US Department of Justice is considering asking a federal judge to force Google to sell parts of its business to break up its online search monopoly. 

In a court filing on Tuesday, prosecutors suggested that the judge could also require Google to share the data powering its search engine and AI products with competitors.

“For over a decade, Google has dominated key distribution channels, leaving rivals with little-to-no incentive to compete,” the antitrust enforcers wrote. "Addressing these harms fully requires dismantling Google’s current control and preventing it from monopolizing future distribution."

The Department of Justice is exploring structural changes to prevent Google from using its other products—such as Chrome, Android, AI technologies, and its app store—to reinforce its search dominance. Prosecutors also pointed to Google's default search agreements, suggesting any remedies would aim to limit or ban such deals.

In response, Google’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Lee-Anne Mulholland, argued that the Department of Justice is overstepping. She warned that government interference in the fast-paced tech industry could have "unintended consequences" for innovation and consumers.

This follows a ruling by US District Judge Amit Mehta in August, which found that Google had been illegally exploiting its search dominance to stifle competition and innovation. The judge has set a timeline for a trial on potential remedies in spring 2025, with a decision expected by August.

Google plans to appeal the ruling but must wait until a remedy is finalized. The appeals process could take up to five years, according to George Hay, a law professor at Cornell University and former chief economist for the Justice Department’s antitrust division.

Source: ABC News