DOJ proposes potential ways to address Google’s monopoly over internet

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday said that it may ask Alphabet’s Google to divest parts of its business that it says have been used to maintain an illegal monopoly in online search.

A federal judge ruled in August that Google had built an illegal monopoly over internet searches, more than 90% of which are processed through Google. The DOJ’s proposed remedies could have a significant impact on how Americans find information on the internet while shrinking Google’s revenues and giving its competitors an opportunity to grow.

“Fully remedying these harms requires not only ending Google’s control of distribution today, but also ensuring Google cannot control the distribution of tomorrow,” the DOJ said.

The DOJ said that to address the monopoly, it may ask the court to require Google to divest its Chrome browser and its Android operating system. It also may request the court stop Google’s payments to have its search engine pre-installed or set as the default on new devices, or require it to share search data with other competing providers.

FEDERAL JUDGE RULES GOOGLE VIOLATED ANTITRUST LAW

A federal judge ruled this summer that Google maintained an illegal monopoly over internet search. (Photo by Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Prosecutors also signaled they will look to prevent Google from dominating the growing field of artificial intelligence (AI), potentially barring Google from entering into agreements that limit its AI rivals’ access to content and allowing websites to opt out of Google using their content to train AI models.

Google has made annual payments to Apple and other device manufacturers to ensure its search engine is the default on smartphones and web browsers to preserve its market share. In 2021, Google made $26.3 billion in such payments.

The company criticized the DOJ’s proposal in a blog post on its website, arguing the “government seems to be pursuing a sweeping agenda that will impact numerous industries and products, with significant unintended consequences for consumers, businesses, and American competitiveness.”

GOOGLE FACES ANOTHER DOJ ANTITRUST LAWSUIT OVER ALLEGED AD-TECH MONOPOLY

The Justice Department outlined possible ways that it may seek to curb Google’s monopoly over internet search. (Photographer: Samuel Corum/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Google said that a requirement to share data surrounding search queries, clicks and results with its rivals “could create major privacy and security risks” because it says those are currently protected by its “strict security standards.” It added that could lead to the creation of copycats and create a disincentive for other companies to innovate in search.

It…