US government pushing for sale of Google’s Chrome

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has stepped up its antitrust proceedings against Google, focusing on the company’s dominance in the internet search market. The DOJ is advocating for sweeping measures, including the mandatory divestiture of the Chrome browser, according to media reports.

The trial, which started on Monday, follows years of investigations, public hearings, and courtroom testimony, all of which led to a landmark judicial ruling in August that Google holds an unlawful monopoly in the search market.

Judge Amit P. Mehta of the US District Court for the District of Columbia is hearing arguments from the government and the company over how to best fix Google’s monopoly and is expected to order measures, referred to as “remedies,” by the end of the summer.

In court filings, the DOJ has contended that Google must face consequences for its allegedly monopolistic behavior. Among the proposed remedies is a court-ordered sale of its widely used Chrome web browser, which plays a critical role in directing users to Google’s search engine.

“This is the time for the court to tell Google and all other monopolists who are out there listening, and they are listening, that there are consequences when you break the antitrust laws,” the New York Times quoted DOJ lawyer David Dahlquist as saying.

The DOJ has also demanded the termination of agreements that grant Google default search engine status on smartphones and other devices, and requested that the company share critical data with competitors to level the playing field in the search market.

The plaintiffs argue that Google, which controls about 90% of the global search market, has maintained its dominance through unlawful agreements that sideline competitors, ultimately harming both consumers and advertisers.

A trial held last year, which centered only on liability, revealed that Google pays Apple over $20 billion annually to ensure its search engine remains the default on Apple’s Safari browser.

Arguing before Judge Mehta on Monday, Google attorney John Schmidtlein dismissed the government’s proposed remedies as “extreme” and “fundamentally flawed.”

“Google won its place in the market fair and square,” Schmidtlein said, according to the Washington Post. He claimed that the government’s proposals “will reward competitors with advantages they never would have earned in a market where Google competed.”

Google has said it is open to easing agreements with Apple and others to give rival search engines better placement on mobile devices. However, it rejects most of the government’s proposals, arguing they would hinder innovation. The company has also pointed to growing competition from emerging AI firms such as OpenAI.

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