The U.S. government may seek court intervention to break up Google and challenge its monopoly in the internet search market.
According to court documents filed by the Justice Department, Google is considering implementing “structural remedies” that would restrict the use of products like Chrome, Android, and Play. The government believes this would provide Google with an unfair advantage over its competitors.
Additional measures being considered include prohibiting Google from paying to have its search engine preinstalled on devices like smartphones.
Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., has objected to the lawsuit, arguing that it represents government overreach at the expense of consumers.
The lawsuit stems from a previous court ruling in August which found Google in violation of antitrust laws for building an illegal monopoly in the search market. The Justice Department is pursuing further actions to challenge Google’s dominance.
The filing alleges that Google’s actions have harmed users and emphasizes the need to restore competition in a market crucial to Americans.
The proposed remedies could prevent Google from using its search-related products, such as Chrome, Play, and Android, to gain an advantage over competitors through new search features like Artificial Intelligence.
Furthermore, Google may be prohibited from paying major phone companies to make Chrome the default browser on their devices, a practice that has cost the company billions.
Google’s vice president of regulation criticized the Justice Department’s proposals, warning of potential harm to consumers, businesses, and developers.
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The Justice Department is expected to present more detailed proposals by November 20th, with Google responding by December 20th.
Source: www.theguardian.com
