The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering requesting a federal judge to break up Google‘s operations following a ruling earlier this year that found the tech giant guilty of violating antitrust laws by maintaining an illegal monopoly over the online search market.
In a 32-page court filing with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Oct. 8, the DOJ outlined potential solutions that could reshape how Americans access information on the internet, reduce Google’s revenues, and create more opportunities for its competitors.
Possible remedies include requiring Google to divest parts of its business, such as its Chrome browser and Android operating system. The department stated that Google’s “unlawful conduct persisted for over a decade and involved a number of self-reinforcing tactics.”
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled in August that Google had established an illegal monopoly in both online search and search text ads markets, marking a significant victory for antitrust enforcers.
The DOJ is now considering various actions to limit or end Google’s use of contracts, monopoly profits, and other tools that control or influence distribution channels and search-related products. This includes browsers, search apps, artificial intelligence summaries, agents, as well as emerging access points and features.
Other measures being considered involve prohibiting Google from paying to have its search engine pre-installed on devices and compelling the company to share data used for Google Search and AI-assisted search features.
August’s landmark ruling stemmed from a 2020 lawsuit filed against Google by the DOJ and state attorneys general alleging anti-competitive practices through exclusive contracts with browser developers, mobile device manufacturers, and wireless carriers.
Google has pledged to appeal Mehta’s ruling while arguing that its search engine has gained users due to quality standards. The company maintains it faces strong competition from websites like Amazon while highlighting users’ ability to set alternative search engines as their default choice.
Google Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Lee-Anne Mulholland expressed concerns about the DOJ’s proposals in a blog post on Tuesday. She referred to them as “radical changes” with unintended consequences for consumers, businesses, and American competitiveness.
Google plans to respond in detail when it presents its case in court next year but warns against splitting off Chrome or Android due to potential disruptions in business models which could raise device costs while undermining competition with Apple’s iPhone ecosystem.
One day before the DOJ filing was made public; another federal judge ordered Google to open up its app store—Google Play—to third-party app stores for three years. This decision requires granting access rights while allowing rival stores’ distribution through Play Store itself—a decision also slated for appeal by Google.