US regulators are urging a federal judge to break up Google after a court deemed the company has maintained a monopolistic grip on the search engine market for over a decade. The Department of Justice, in a recent filing, proposed significant measures, including the divestment of Google’s Chrome web browser to enhance competition and restrictive measures on Android to prevent it from promoting Google’s search services.
Lawyers assert that selling Chrome would halt Google’s control over a critical access point for internet browsing, allowing rival search engines a fairer chance. While regulators did not demand the sale of Android, they suggested that further misconduct could warrant such action.
The recommendations come after a ruling by US District Judge Amit Mehta, who classified Google as a monopolist. If the judge rules in favour of these proposals, Google may have to act within six months, potentially escalating a legal battle that has already lasted over four years.
Further measures under consideration include banning Google from securing default search agreements on devices like Apple’s iPhone and enforcing greater transparency regarding advertising prices. Google has condemned these proposals as overly broad and detrimental to its operations, warning they could threaten privacy and innovation in artificial intelligence. The case, originally initiated during Trump’s presidency, has seen tensions rise over the future direction of antitrust enforcement in the tech industry.