The US government could ask a judge to force the breakup of Google’s business as it seeks to challenge the technology corporation’s monopoly over the Internet search market.
The Department of Justice has filed court documents that say it is considering pursuing “structural remedies” that would prevent Google from using some of its products such as Chrome, Android and Play, which the Justice Department says give the company an advantage over its rivals.
Other actions being considered include preventing Google from paying to have its search engine pre-installed on smartphones and other devices.
Google, owned by Alphabet, said it would challenge any case brought by the Justice Department and that the proposals marked an “overreach” by the government that would harm consumers.
The latest filing comes after a court ruling in August in favor of the Justice Department that found that Google, which controls 90% of the global search market, had violated antitrust laws and spent billions building a monopoly. illegal. The ruling paved the way for the Justice Department’s ongoing lawsuit that will rule on possible actions to counter Google’s market dominance.
The filing said Google’s conduct had resulted in “interlocking and pernicious harms” to users, and the importance of restoring competition to a market, which was “indispensable” to Americans, could not be underestimated.
The ruling said: “Plaintiffs are considering structural and behavioral remedies that would prevent Google from using products like Chrome, Play, and Android to take advantage of Google Search and Google Search-related products and features, including Google Search points and features. emerging search access, such as artificial intelligence – over rivals or new entrants.”
The move may also prevent Google from paying major phone companies like Apple and Samsung to make Chrome the default browser on their devices. In 2021, Google paid companies $26.3 billion to ensure its search engine was the default option in their products.
The presentation said: “For more than a decade, Google has controlled the most popular distribution channels, leaving its rivals with little or no incentive to compete for users. “Fully remedying these harms requires not only ending Google’s distribution control today, but also ensuring that Google cannot control distribution tomorrow.”
Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs, said the Justice Department’s “radical and sweeping” proposals risked harming consumers, businesses and developers.
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She said: “This case is about a set of search distribution contracts. Instead of focusing on that, the administration appears to be pursuing a broad agenda that will impact numerous industries and products, with significant unintended consequences for consumers, businesses, and American competitiveness.”
The Justice Department is expected to present a more detailed set of proposals by November 20, and Google is expected to submit its proposed solutions by December 20.