The US Department of Justice has argued that Google should be forced to sell its Chrome browser and share data with competitors in order to end the tech giant’s monopoly on internet search. In a court filing, prosecutors stated that Google’s actions have deprived rivals of opportunities to expand their search engine market share. The DOJ also proposed that Google be prohibited from re-entering the browser market for five years and selling its Android mobile operating system if competition cannot be restored. Additionally, the department wants to end Google’s agreements with device makers that make its search engine the default on tablets and smartphones.
The DOJ’s legal battle against Google is part of a wider effort to address antitrust concerns in the tech industry and strengthen competition. In August, US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google had created an illegal monopoly for its search engine by using its dominance to suppress competition and innovation. Google maintains that its popularity is based on consumer choice and has raised concerns that the proposed regulations could harm US consumers, businesses, and American competitiveness in AI.
Google will have an opportunity to present its own proposals to improve competition in December, with a trial to rule on the DOJ’s proposals scheduled for April. Changes to the case could be made by the incoming antitrust head at the DOJ under the new administration. The outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications for Google’s business practices and the future of competition in the tech industry.
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