Google Might Lose Monopoly, still years away

In a landmark case, a judge ruled in August that Google, which controls 90 percent of internet searches in the United States, had created an illegal monopoly. On Tuesday, the U.S. government signaled it may ask a judge to require Alphabet's Google to divest parts of its business—such as the Chrome browser and Android operating system—that are allegedly used to sustain its dominance in online search.

Reports indicate that Google has paid billions annually, with payments reaching $26.3 billion in 2021, to companies like Apple and other device manufacturers to keep its search engine as the default on smartphones and browsers, thereby strengthening its market share.

Yelp, which filed a lawsuit against Google in August, advocates for divesting Google’s Chrome browser and AI services, arguing that these steps should be considered. Yelp also suggests that Google should be barred from prioritizing its own local business pages in search results.

The Justice Department's proposed remedies could significantly alter how Americans access information online, potentially diminishing Google’s revenues while creating more opportunities for its competitors to grow. Additionally, these measures aim to prevent Google’s longstanding dominance from spilling over into the rapidly expanding field of artificial intelligence.

The Justice Department may also seek a court order to halt Google's practice of paying to have its search engine pre-installed or set as the default on new devices. By November 20, the Department is expected to submit a detailed proposal to the court, while Google will have until December 20 to suggest its own remedies.

In response, Google stated in a corporate blog post that it plans to appeal, describing the proposed measures as "radical" and claiming they "extend far beyond the specific legal issues at hand."