- The Department of Justice is pushing to break up Google by forcing the company to sell its Chrome browser and curb its exclusivity deals with companies. The move reflects bipartisan concern over Google’s dominance in the tech industry.
- The DOJ argued Google’s dominance over search engines limits consumer choice and competition.
- Google argues its success comes from innovation, not monopoly tactics.
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) is taking action against Google’s dominant influence over the tech industry. Court documents reveal that the government is pushing for an overhaul of the company, aiming to weaken its control by breaking it up.
It’s a move that signals bipartisan consensus, as both the Trump and Biden administrations agree on the need to curb Google’s monopolistic behavior.
Stock decline amid DOJ push
Shares of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, took a hit on Monday, March 10, dropping more than 4%. The DOJ’s case against the tech giant has raised serious concerns about the company’s growing dominance and its potential impact on the world.
In a recent filing, the DOJ highlighted that American consumers rely on Google for everything from emergency searches to everyday needs, with the company being described as “the gateway to the internet.”
The DOJ’s case against Google
One of the main issues, according to the DOJ, is that Americans never actually chose Google as their search engine, the company essentially chose it for them. As part of its plan to dismantle Google’s monopolistic practices, the DOJ is pushing for the company to sell its Chrome web browser, which is used by over 3 billion people worldwide.
The DOJ asserts Chrome is an important search access point, and breaking it up would provide an opportunity for competitors to establish themselves in the search market, free from Google’s control.
This marks the second time the DOJ has sought to have Google sell Chrome. The Biden administration led the call in November 2024 to break up Google.
The Biden administration also pushed for Google to divest its artificial intelligence investments, such as those in OpenAI. The Trump administration has backed off from calling for Google to sell off its AI investments.
Additional measures to dismantle Google’s power
In addition to targeting Chrome, the DOJ is seeking to block Google from making exclusive deals with companies like Apple to keep its search engine as the default on iOS devices, including iPhones and Macs. However, the proposal does not prevent Google from paying Apple for services unrelated to search.
Another significant element of the proposal involves Google being required to share its search data with competitors. The DOJ argues that this move would promote equal opportunities in the search market, providing a level playing field for smaller companies.
The DOJ has also indicated if these measures are not enough to reduce Google’s monopoly, it may push for the company to sell Android.
Google makes its case
Google, however, strongly disagrees with the DOJ’s proposals. The company argues that the government’s actions will harm American consumers, the economy and national security. In response to the DOJ’s request for Chrome’s sale, Google insists its success stems from innovation and key investments, not monopoly tactics.
Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs, in defense of the company, argues that people use Google because they want to, not because they have no choice.
In appealing the DOJ’s proposal, Google unveiled its own remedies, suggesting that other search browsers should be allowed to offer their services, but without restricting users to Google alone. Google proposed offering users the flexibility to choose their preferred search engine.
As the case continues to unfold, both the DOJ and Google will head back to court in April, with a final ruling expected later this summer. Regardless of the outcome, Google is anticipated to appeal the decision.
