The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is contemplating significant changes to Google’s operations as part of an ongoing antitrust case, including making the company’s data accessible to competitors and potentially requiring a breakup of its business divisions.
In a recent court filing, the DOJ indicated it may ask a federal court to enforce structural changes to Google in order to address its alleged monopolistic practices in the search engine market, a move that could reshape the landscape of the $2 trillion tech giant.
The DOJ’s filing suggests a variety of remedies aimed at curbing Google’s market power, which has been described as anticompetitive. Among these proposals is the possibility of mandating that Google make the underlying data that fuels its search engine available to rival companies. The government aims to eliminate the advantages Google currently holds due to its dominance in various areas, such as the Chrome browser, Android operating system, and Play app store. While specific structural changes have not yet been detailed, the DOJ is committed to ensuring that Google does not exploit its resources to further entrench its market position.
In the filing, the government emphasized the urgency of restoring competition in essential markets that impact the daily lives of Americans.
“Google’s anticompetitive conduct resulted in interlocking and pernicious harms that present unprecedented complexities in a highly evolving set of markets,” the DOJ stated.
The government believes that only through significant changes can the competitive landscape in online search be effectively revitalized.
In response, Google has voiced concerns regarding the DOJ’s intentions. Lee-Anne Mulholland, the company’s vice president of regulatory affairs, argued that the government is overreaching by proposing changes that extend beyond the legal issues at hand. She warned that excessive regulation in a rapidly evolving industry could have negative consequences for innovation and consumers alike.
The legal proceedings against Google began during the Trump administration when the DOJ and several states filed a lawsuit in 2020. The lawsuit claimed that Google used its resources to suppress competition, including financial agreements with other companies to ensure its technology was the default option. A significant ruling in August by US District Judge Amit Mehta confirmed that Google had indeed acted as a monopolist by leveraging billions of dollars to maintain its status as the default search engine on major platforms.
As the case progresses, the DOJ is expected to submit a final proposal outlining its suggested remedies by November, with Google having the opportunity to counter with its own proposals in December. This ongoing antitrust case has drawn attention not only for its implications for Google but also for how it may influence competition across the tech industry, as the DOJ is simultaneously investigating other major companies such as Apple, Amazon, and Meta.
With input from ABC News, the New York Times, and Axios.
