We have been hearing about Google's legal battle for quite some time, and while the expectations were that Trump's DOJ might opt for a different decision, that seems a farfetched possibility. The regulatory authorities have been attempting a divestiture on account of the tech giant's violation of the antitrust laws, but the company has been advocating its case and arguing against it. Earlier, we covered Google urging the government to reconsider its decision to break up the company. However, as per a revised trial proposal, it seems that the US Department of Justice is still adamant about breaking up the search engine giant.
The US Department of Justice is determined to break up Google as it sticks to its decision in a new filing
Google has been facing immense pressure from regulatory authorities since last year, and it looks like the legal battle is determined to shape the company's future course. Google was found guilty of engaging in monopolistic practices and sustaining a dominance in the search engine market that disadvantaged others. Judge Amit Mehta suggested that the company be forced to sell Chrome as a way to break its monopoly in the market.
However, the decision was resisted by Google, who kept arguing that the case was going beyond the legal requirement and opting for very extreme steps that could harm consumers and even the economy. Google went on to file its own proposal, urged the Trump DOJ not to push for selling Chrome, and suggested that the court could place restrictions on the deals it could make. It presented concerns for national security as a valid reason for its argument.
It seemed that the government might be inclined towards a less harsh decision amidst Google's constant persuasion, but a revised proposal filed on Friday suggests otherwise. The US DOJ is advocating for a major structural change to the company's operations and continues to maintain that Google's monopoly in online search services is illegal. The revised proposal pushes for Google to divest its Chrome browser and potentially the Android operating system as well.
According to the DOJ's final proposed remedy, Google should be restricted from entering into agreements that set its search engine as the default search option for platforms and devices. Google would also be required to provide notifications prior to any new ventures or collaborations. The artificial intelligence investments would not undergo any divestiture as initially suggested by the plaintiffs.
Hearings for the proposal are scheduled for April 2025, and the proposed breakup of Google might happen in August 2025. The case is a landmark because it is one of the aggressive antitrust actions and has far-reaching implications for the industry.
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