On May 23, the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington held a press conference. U.S. Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter talked about the antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment at the press conference. Attorney General Merrick Garland Garland with Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, 2024.
Ken Cedeno | Reuters
The Justice Department called on Google to spin off its Chrome browser after ruling in August that it had a monopoly in the search market.
Chrome, launched by Google in 2008, provides the search giant with data that is then used to target ads. The U.S. Department of Justice stated in a document On Wednesday, forcing the company to get rid of Chrome will create a more level playing field for search competitors.
“To remedy these harms, (the preliminary proposed final judgment) would require Google to divest Chrome, which would permanently prevent Google from controlling this critical search access point and allow rival search engines to gain access to the browser, which for many users In general, the browser is the gateway to the browser.
In addition, the Justice Department stated that Google is prohibited from entering into exclusive agreements with third parties such as Apple and Samsung. The U.S. Department of Justice also said it prohibits Google from giving priority to search services in its other products.
The Justice Department also said the remedies should prevent Google from eliminating “new competitive threats that arise through acquisitions, minority investments, or partnerships.” “The proposed remedies are effective for 10 years,” the U.S. Department of Justice said. The document also says search companies should be required to provide monthly reports to the technical committee outlining any changes to their search text ad auctions.
“The proposed remedies are intended to end Google’s unlawful conduct and open the market to competitors and new entrants,” the filing reads.
Parent company Alphabet’s third-quarter search advertising revenue was $49.4 billion, accounting for three-quarters of total advertising sales during the period.
The Justice Department’s request is the agency’s most aggressive attempt to break up a technology company since it launched an antitrust case against them. Microsoftand reached a settlement in 2001.
In addition to calling on Google to divest Chrome, the Justice Department said forcing the search company to divest its Android mobile operating system would also help restore competition, “but the plaintiffs recognize that such divestitures could cause Google or other market participants to strong opposition.
Instead, the Justice Department suggested that other remedies should be sufficient to “impair Google’s ability to leverage its control over the Android ecosystem to support its universal search service” and if they “ultimately fail to achieve meaningful relief on these critical issues.” In terms of high standards” market, the court may require reconsideration of the “Android divestment proposal”.
In August, a federal judge ruled that Google Occupying a monopoly position in the search market. The ruling follows a landmark case filed by the government in 2020, accusing Google of controlling the entire search market by erecting strong barriers to entry and feedback loops that maintain its dominance. The court found that Google violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act, which prohibits monopolies.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice said it was considering breaking up Google’s business, including possibly splitting off its Chrome, Play or Android units.
Additionally, the Justice Department proposed limiting or banning default agreements and “other revenue sharing arrangements related to search and search-related products.” These include Google’s search arrangements with Apple on iPhones and Samsung on its mobile devices, deals that cost the company billions of dollars a year.
Google said it will appeal the monopoly ruling, which will lead to a final remedial decision.
However, some legal experts believe the most likely outcome is that courts will require Google to void certain exclusive agreements, such as the one with Apple. Experts say that while a breakup is unlikely, a court may require Google to make it easier for users to access other search engines.
watch: What the Justice Department’s focus on Google means for the tech company
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