US Government Pushes for Google's Breakup in Antitrust Case

The US government is pursuing legal action in Washington to dismantle Google, specifically targeting its Chrome web browser business. The Department of Justice argues that Google must divest this segment as part of efforts to curb its monopolistic practices. Google has vowed to appeal any unfavorable decisions.

In August, a US judge determined that Google holds a monopoly in the web search market and has employed unfair tactics to suppress competition. The latest proceedings commenced recently, focusing on the ramifications of this ruling. During the opening of the hearings, the Justice Department urged Judge Amit Mehta to take a firm stance against anti-competitive behavior, as reported by multiple sources.

The government has also indicated that it wants additional measures imposed on Google, including the requirement to share certain data from its search engine with competitors. Furthermore, the government seeks to terminate agreements in which Google pays significant sums to other browser developers, such as Firefox and Apple, to set its search engine as the default choice.

There is also a possibility that the government could demand the separation of Android, the widely used mobile operating system, from Google in future proceedings.

In anticipation of the court's ruling on the consequences, Google has already stated its intention to appeal the monopolization verdict. However, the company emphasizes that the government's demands could adversely affect consumers and stifle innovation, asserting that these actions aim to redirect users towards less effective competing search engines.

Google contends that the previous ruling did not claim that it acquired its monopolistic position illegally but rather that it attempted to protect it through improper means. The company warns that a forced separation of Chrome would result in significant negative impacts, arguing that such a move would not address the alleged anti-competitive behavior.

In light of the recent antitrust ruling, Google has offered to grant more flexibility to browser developers regarding search engine agreements.

The pressure on Google has intensified following a recent court setback in Virginia, where a judge concluded that the company achieved a monopoly in online advertising platforms through unfair competition. This ruling will lead to a subsequent trial concerning potential penalties.

Simultaneously, in the same Washington court, proceedings are underway as the US government seeks to require the breakup of Instagram and WhatsApp from the parent company Meta. However, this case remains in its initial stages, focusing on establishing potential anti-competitive violations.