The US Department of Justice is taking legal action against Google, alleging the company maintains an illegal monopoly in the search engine market. As part of this case, the DOJ is requesting that Google sell off key assets, including its Chrome browser. Hearings began on April 22 and are expected to last three weeks. Several tech companies, such as OpenAI, Perplexity AI, and Yahoo, have expressed interest in purchasing Chrome if the court mandates its sale. This case could significantly alter how tech companies operate and how users conduct online searches. The DOJ argues that Google should also assist rival search engines that it has allegedly kept out of competition. Google’s legal team contends that any remedies should focus solely on its deals with companies like Apple, Mozilla, and Samsung to make it the default search engine on devices. Judge Amit P. Mehta, who previously ruled that Google illegally maintained a monopoly in search, is presiding over the case. After hearing arguments, Mehta is expected to issue remedies by the end of summer. Google holds over 89% of the global search market share. A representative from Google stated that breaking up the company would harm the economy and make it harder for users to access preferred services. Additionally, the DOJ aims to prohibit Google from entering exclusive agreements that set its search engine as the default on devices and browsers. This marks the government’s first significant attempt to dismantle a major tech company since its unsuccessful efforts against Microsoft two decades ago.
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