The U.S. Justice Department and several state attorneys general are taking steps to dismantle Google’s alleged monopoly.
The first move will be to request that Google divest its Chrome browser, according to El Economista.
This decision is part of a larger plan to break Google into separate entities and reduce its dominance in the tech industry.
In August, a U.S. court ruled that Google abused its position in the search engine market to create an illegal monopoly.
The Justice Department has proposed remedies to prevent Google from leveraging products like Chrome, the Play Store, and Android to promote its search engine over competitors.
It also aims to curb Google’s advantage in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
Reinforced Dominance
The sale of Chrome is a key part of the plan. Critics argue that Google’s integration of its services makes it difficult for competitors to succeed.
By bundling its browser with other products, Google has reinforced its dominance as the world’s most popular search engine.
Rumors that the Justice Department would force Google to sell Android have been dismissed. However, restrictions may still be imposed.
These could include separating Android from the Play Store or banning Google from making its search engine the default option on Android devices.
Google has called these measures extreme. It warned that such actions could harm innovation and delay the development of new products.
Judge Amit Mehta, who is overseeing the case, is expected to issue a final ruling by mid-2025. Political changes, including Donald Trump’s potential return to the presidency in January 2025, could influence the case’s outcome.
This legal battle is a significant moment for the tech industry. Breaking up Google could reshape the competitive landscape, providing more opportunities for smaller companies and reducing the company’s ability to dominate key markets.
