New York, Wednesday, October 09, 2024- The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering asking a judge to order Google to divest parts of its business, such as Chrome and Android, in response to allegations of maintaining an illegal monopoly in online search.
This comes after a judge ruled in August that Google, responsible for 90% of U.S. internet searches, had unlawfully dominated the search market. The DOJ is expected to propose remedies by Nov. 20 to prevent Google’s monopolistic control from extending into artificial intelligence.
Google has paid billions to ensure its search engine remains the default on devices like Apple’s iPhones, strengthening its market share. It plans to appeal the ruling, calling the proposed changes “radical.” Google argues its search engine thrives due to its quality and that users have alternatives.
This case is part of the DOJ’s broader efforts against Big Tech monopolies.
Google is also facing pressure to open its app store to competition and fighting a case that could lead to the breakup of its web advertising business.
Rivals like Yelp and DuckDuckGo support breaking up Google’s Chrome and AI services to curb its dominance. With a market cap of over $2 trillion, Google faces mounting legal challenges aimed at reshaping the tech industry.
