On November 21, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) filed a comprehensive 23-page document proposing the breakup of Google, specifically demanding that Alphabet, Google's parent company, divest its Chrome browser. This move aims to prevent what regulators describe as an abusive monopoly that Google has maintained over the past decade [40ac8a5c].
The proposal comes in the wake of a significant ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta in August 2024, which found that Google holds monopoly power in the online search market. The DoJ's actions are part of a broader strategy to dismantle Google's dominance, which includes not only the sale of Chrome but also restrictions on Android's preferential treatment of its own search engine [40ac8a5c].
The Justice Department argues that divesting Chrome will allow rival search engines better access to the market, fostering competition. Hearings on this matter are scheduled for April 2025, with a final decision expected before Labor Day [40ac8a5c]. Google has indicated that it may appeal any ruling that comes from this case, which originally began during the Trump administration [40ac8a5c].
In addition to the Chrome sale, the proposed penalties include banning Google from exclusive search deals worth over $26 billion, further tightening the regulatory noose around the tech giant. Kent Walker, Google's chief legal officer, criticized the proposal, claiming it could be harmful to consumers and undermine American tech leadership [40ac8a5c].
This latest push by the U.S. government reflects a growing trend towards increased scrutiny of Big Tech, drawing parallels to the Microsoft antitrust case from 25 years ago. Analysts suggest that while the breakup of Google may not drastically affect its overall market share, it could reshape the competitive landscape of the tech industry [2f7e1ff9].
The DoJ's actions also follow a ruling from December 2023, where 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, a decision that Google plans to appeal [5b397d03].
As the U.S. Department of Justice intensifies its scrutiny of Google, Brazil is also enhancing its antitrust enforcement measures, reflecting a global trend towards increased regulation of Big Tech. Reports indicate that Brazil ranks second globally for cyberattacks, with significant vulnerabilities in critical sectors such as telecommunications and data services [2e165db2].
Arthur I. Cyr has 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]. Potential buyers for Chrome could include companies like OpenAI, indicating a shifting landscape in the tech industry [58aac788].