The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has urged a judge to force Google’s parent company, Alphabet, to sell its Chrome browser and share search results and data with competitors to end its alleged monopoly on online search. The DOJ’s proposals, presented in court this week, could reshape the way users access information online, as they aim to break up Google’s control over search and related advertising.
The measures could be in place for up to ten years, overseen by a court-appointed committee tasked with ensuring compliance. The DOJ, along with state antitrust officials, claims that Google’s actions have harmed competition by denying rivals key distribution channels. This includes exclusive deals where Google pays billions of dollars to companies like Apple to make its search engine the default on their devices.
In response, Google criticized the DOJ’s demands as “staggering,” warning that they would hurt American consumers and small businesses while undermining the U.S.’s global tech leadership.
Shares of Alphabet dropped nearly 5% following the announcement. A trial to examine the DOJ’s proposals is scheduled for April, but future changes in leadership could alter the course of the case.
The DOJ’s proposal also includes significant changes for Google’s Chrome browser and Android mobile operating system. The tech giant could be prohibited from re-entering the browser market for five years, and potentially forced to sell Android if other measures fail to restore competition. Additional restrictions would prevent Google from acquiring search rivals or investing in certain technologies like AI and advertising.
A technical committee appointed by the judge would oversee the enforcement of these measures, with the power to investigate Google’s practices. Google would cover the costs of the committee, which could demand documents and access to the company’s software.
Google’s Chrome browser, the world’s most used web browser, plays a crucial role in Google’s business by helping the company gather user data for targeted ads. The DOJ argues that Google’s control over Chrome and Android has unfairly boosted its search engine at the expense of competitors. Google, however, says that forcing the sale of Chrome and Android would hurt the ecosystem of companies that rely on these platforms.
The company could still avoid selling its products if it complies with the DOJ’s proposals, but any potential buyers for Chrome or Android would need approval from antitrust enforcers.
Google will have the opportunity to present its own proposals in December, as the legal battle continues.
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