The Justice Department is continuing its efforts to break up Google, following a landmark ruling last year that found the tech giant had maintained a monopoly in online search through illegal practices. The government reiterated its demand that Google sells its popular web browser Chrome, among other remedies, arguing that the company’s conduct has created an economic goliath that disrupts market competition.
The Biden administration’s approach to tech regulation is beginning to take shape through these antitrust cases, with significant remedies proposed since the Microsoft breakup case in 2000. The case against Google is one of several high-profile antitrust cases involving tech giants like Meta, Apple, and Amazon.
Tech executives have sought to influence the Trump administration’s approach to regulation, with concerns about Big Tech’s power as gatekeepers to online discourse being raised by officials. The new chairman of the F.T.C. and nominee to lead the Justice Department’s antitrust division have also expressed concerns about the dominance of tech companies.
The government’s proposals include changes to Google’s business practices, prohibiting paid agreements for prime placement in web browsers and smartphones, and requiring Google to notify officials before making investments in artificial intelligence. Google has pushed back against the government’s proposals, arguing that they would harm consumers, the economy, and national security.
The case against Google, scheduled for a hearing next month, will determine potential remedies following a 10-week trial that found evidence of Google’s anticompetitive behavior. The company maintains that its search engine is preferred by users and that its deals with companies like Apple and Mozilla did not break the law.
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