The Justice Department is reportedly considering a push for a historic breakup of Google’s business empire after a federal judge ruled the Big Tech giant has an illegal monopoly over online search.
DOJ attorneys could ask Judge Amit Mehta to order Google to sell portions of its business – with potential candidates for divestment including its Android operating system, Chrome web browser and advertising platform AdWords, Bloomberg reported.
A potential sell-off of Android – the world’s most widely-used operating system – has generated the most discussion among the DOJ attorneys crafting the agency’s plan, the outlet said, citing sources with knowledge of the agency’s discussions.
The feds are also weighing “less severe” options, such as requiring Google to share data with rival search engines such as DuckDuckGo and Microsoft’s Bing.
Potential candidates for divestment: Android Chrome AdWords
Mehta ruled Google violated Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act in two markets – general search services and general text advertising — and found the default search engine deals “are exclusive and have anticompetitive effects.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amit_Mehta
Appointed by Obama in 2014
Here is the 277 page opinion:
https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000191-23f0-d160-aff9-6bff4bbe0000
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/05/google-antitrust-lawsuit-00172678
“This victory against Google is a historic win for the American people,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “No company — no matter how large or influential — is above the law. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously enforce our antitrust laws.”
The 277 page opinion is in the politico article
Oh no. How terrible. Murder. Police.
murder? police?
Break up how? Separate Google Chrome and Android into separate companies? Or splitting Google search into two search engine companies?
Yes that’s one possibility
Divesting AdWords or the paid search division
Use Duckduckgo and Linux.
https://dailycaller.com/2024/08/13/kamala-harris-campaign-fake-headlines-google-searches-american-voters-npr-cnn/
This would be huge if they actually followed through with this. Realistically I suspect they will get the Microsoft treatment and just have severe government oversight for the next 10 years.