The United States government has called for a breakup of Google and its internet browser, Chrome, over allegations of abusing monopoly. U.S. regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine after a court found that it had maintained an abusive monopoly over the past decade.
The proposed breakup floated in a 23-page document filed late Wednesday, November 19, by the U.S. Justice Department calls for Google to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser.
At the same time, the Justice Department was asked to impose restrictions to prevent its Android smartphone software from favoring its search engine.
While regulators refrained from directly demanding that Google sell Android, they emphasised that the judge should clarify that the company could still be required to divest its smartphone operating system if its oversight committee finds further evidence of misconduct.
An image of google search engine on a laptop. PHOTO/Freepik
Recommended Penalties
An article published by the ABCNews on the recommended penalties calls attention to how regulators under the administration of Joe Biden are convinced that Google should be punished.
This conviction follows a ruling that was made in August by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta resulting in branding the company a monopolist.
However, assumptions are that the Justice Department that will take over the case may not exercise the required strictness on the subject.
Moreover, the hearings of the case aimed at rendering punishment to Googe are scheduled to commence in April at the Washington D.C Court where the Mehta is aiming at issuing a final decision before Labor Day.
If Judge Mehta upholds the government’s recommendations, Google will have no choice but to sell its 16-year-old Chrome browser within six months of the final ruling.
However, Google did not offer an immediate response on the filling, but it has affirmed before that the Justice Department is pushing penalties that in their view are beyond the issues raised in its case.
Also Read:Google to Delete Browsing Records After Being Dragged to Court
Other Recommendations by the Justice Department on Google
In addition to seeking a Chrome spinoff and restrictions on Android software, the Justice Department wants the judge to prohibit Google from striking multibillion-dollar agreements that secure its search engine as the default on Apple’s iPhone and other devices.
The proposal also calls for banning Google from prioritizing its own services, like YouTube and its newly launched AI platform, Gemini.
Also, regulators want Google to license the search index data it collects from people’s queries to its rivals, thus offering them the upper hand at competing with the tech giant.
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On the other hand, Google will be compelled to exhibit transparency on how it sets its prices that advertising clients pay for listing near the top of some targeted search results.
“The playing field is not level because of Google’s conduct, and Google’s quality reflects the ill-gotten gains of an advantage illegally acquired,” the Justice Department asserted in its recommendations as quoted by the ABCNews.
“The remedy must close this gap and deprive Google of these advantages.”
Also Read: Google to Delete Millions of Users Emails and Photos
Possible Outcomes on the Case
Media reports suggest that the Justice Department could soften its efforts to break up Google if, by chance, Trump replaces Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter, who was appointed by Biden to lead the agency’s antitrust division.
Notably, Trump has expressed concerns recently that a break-up might destroy Google. However, he did not reveal the alternative penalties he might have in mind.
“What you can do without breaking it up is make sure it’s fairer,” Trump said last month.
Matt Gaetz, the former Republican congressman that Trump nominated to be the next U.S. Attorney General has previously called for the breakup of Big Tech companies.
Lastly, this latest filing provides Kanter and his team with a final opportunity to outline the steps they believe are necessary to restore competition in search.
It follows a preliminary outline of potential penalties issued by the Justice Department six weeks ago, which first suggested the possibility of a breakup.
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