On October 10, 2024, the U.S. Justice Department announced it is weighing a historic break-up of Google as part of its ongoing antitrust case against the tech giant. This comes after a recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, who deemed Google an illegal monopoly in the search market and ordered the company to open its Android operating system to rival app stores [36522403].
The Justice Department is exploring 'structural remedies' that could include forcing Google to divest certain parts of its business, such as Chrome, Play, and Android, to prevent illegal monopolization. A 32-page document outlining potential options for the judge has been released, and a fuller proposal on remedies is expected next month, with a two-week hearing scheduled for April 2025 [36522403]. Judge Mehta is expected to rule on these remedies by August 2025, marking this case as the most significant antitrust action since the failed Microsoft break-up attempt two decades ago [36522403].
In December 2023, a jury found that Google maintained illegal monopoly power through its Play Store, which dominates approximately 70% of the global smartphone market. The judge's ruling prohibits Google from engaging in anticompetitive practices for three years, including revenue sharing with competitors, a decision that Google plans to appeal [5b397d03].
The implications of these rulings extend beyond the U.S. as Brazil also grapples with its own antitrust challenges and cybersecurity threats. Reports indicate that Brazil ranks second globally for cyberattacks, with significant vulnerabilities in critical sectors such as telecommunications and data services [2e165db2].
IBM has raised alarms about the PixPirate malware, which targets Brazil's PIX payment system, processing around 3 billion transactions totaling BRL 250 billion (USD 44.3 billion). This malware highlights the increasing risks associated with digital payment systems in Brazil [2e165db2].
As the U.S. Department of Justice intensifies its scrutiny of Google, Brazil is enhancing its antitrust enforcement measures, reflecting a global trend towards increased regulation of Big Tech. Arthur I. Cyr recently noted that while Google faces significant scrutiny, historical monopolies like Standard Oil posed greater dangers in the past, suggesting that modern technology companies, when properly regulated, can benefit society [1764ddb3].