The US Department of Justice is poised to demand significant divestitures from Google, including potential separation of its Chrome browser or Android mobile operating system, in a landmark effort to curtail the tech giant’s dominance in online search.
The anticipated filing, expected Wednesday, broadly aligns with prosecutors’ initial framework outlined last month. The proposal aims to compel Google to share user search data with competitors whilst restricting its capacity to utilise search results for training new generative AI models.
This aggressive remedy follows Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling earlier this year, which determined Google had established an illegal monopoly in online search through billions spent on exclusive agreements with wireless carriers, browser developers and device manufacturers, most notably Apple.
The Justice Department’s strategy specifically targets Google’s lucrative default search engine arrangements, which cost the company more than £26 billion in 2021, with approximately £20 billion allocated to Apple alone. These contracts have been instrumental in cementing Google’s position as the predominant search engine across popular devices.
Google, maintaining its products’ success stems from superior quality rather than anti-competitive practices, has pledged to appeal the liability decision. The company currently processes over 90 per cent of online queries globally.
Should the court mandate Chrome’s divestiture, Google would relinquish control of the world’s most popular browser, which commands nearly two-thirds of the US market. The company argues such separation would harm consumers, as few organisations possess the resources to invest billions annually in browser security and competitiveness whilst maintaining a free service model.
The case represents a crucial component of the Biden administration’s broader antitrust offensive against Big Tech, though its trajectory remains uncertain as the upcoming presidential transition approaches. Judge Mehta’s ruling on remedies is anticipated by mid-2025, potentially initiating a protracted legal battle that could extend for years.
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