The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has called for a landmark breakup of Google, urging a court to mandate the sale of its Chrome browser and possibly its Android operating system to curb the company’s dominance.
In a filing late Wednesday, the DOJ also proposed banning deals that make Google the default search engine on smartphones, arguing that such practices exploit its control over the Android platform and stifle competition.
The move follows Judge Amit Mehta’s August ruling declaring Google a monopoly, marking a pivotal moment in U.S. antitrust history.
The case scrutinized Google’s agreements with manufacturers, such as Apple, which ensured Google’s search engine default status in exchange for hefty payments.
The ruling found these practices granted Google unparalleled user data access, consolidating its dominance across search, advertising, and data-driven platforms like Chrome, Maps, and Android.
Google’s Global Affairs President, Kent Walker, criticized the DOJ’s approach, labeling it as “unprecedented government overreach” that could harm consumers, developers, and small businesses while jeopardizing U.S. tech leadership.
Industry observers, such as Adam Kovacevich of the Chamber of Progress, deemed the proposed remedies “extreme,” advocating for more targeted solutions.
The next steps include a Google filing in December and hearings in April 2025, but appeals are likely to delay a final decision for years, potentially leaving the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The case, one of five antitrust lawsuits targeting big tech under the Biden administration, could be reshaped by the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, whose stance on Google has varied.
