US considers Google breakup amid antitrust case
The US Justice Department is contemplating a historic breakup of Google due to its monopolization of the online search market. In a recent court filing, the department indicated that it may recommend forcing Google to divest certain parts of its operations to address the harm caused by its dominance.
This potential move marks Washington's first significant attempt to dismantle a company for illegal monopolization since the unsuccessful efforts to break up Microsoft Corp. two decades ago. The Justice Department's filing outlines various options for the court to consider as the case transitions to the remedy phase.
According to the filing, the department is considering behavioral and structural remedies to prevent Google from using its products, such as Chrome, Play, and Android, to unfairly advantage its search engine and related features over competitors. This could include compelling Google to grant access to the underlying data it utilizes to generate search results and develop its artificial intelligence products.
The Justice Department also aims to address Google's dominance in search text ads, potentially mandating the company to offer advertisers more information and control over the placement of their ads. Additionally, the department may seek restrictions on Google's ability to invest in search competitors or potential rivals.
Google has been found to have reaped significant scale and data advantages from its illegal distribution agreements with other tech companies, establishing its search engine as the default option on smartphones and web browsers. The company plans to appeal the ruling, which found it in violation of antitrust laws in both the online search and search text ads markets.
A more detailed proposal outlining potential remedies is expected to be submitted next month. Google has not yet commented on the development. The potential breakup of Google would have far-reaching implications for the tech industry and could pave the way for increased competition in the online search market.
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