Google monopoly under fire: US seeks major breakup in court

With AI becoming increasingly central to tech innovation, regulators fear Google’s search monopoly may evolve into AI dominance, as Judge Amit P. Mehta nears a decision on how to curb the company’s market control

The US Justice Department has opened a pivotal hearing in federal court, urging the breakup of Google to address what it describes as an entrenched monopoly in internet search. The outcome could significantly reshape not only Google’s business structure but also the future of competition in the tech industry.

The hearing, set to run for three weeks, stems from a 2023 decision by Judge Amit P. Mehta of the US District Court for the District of Columbia, who ruled that Google had violated antitrust laws by using its dominance to suppress competition in the search engine market. The focus now turns to remedies—actions the court can take to rectify the monopolistic behaviour.

In opening arguments, Justice Department lawyers proposed a major structural remedy: forcing Google to divest its Chrome web browser. Prosecutors argue that Chrome plays a central role in driving user traffic to Google Search, making it virtually impossible for rival search engines to compete.

“Chrome is more than a browser—it’s a funnel to Google Search,” a government attorney stated. “If left intact, it ensures Google’s dominance for years to come.”

Google faces multiple antitrust fronts

In addition to divestiture, the government is pushing for measures that would help rival search engines gain visibility and user access, steps it says are essential to jumpstart competition in a market that has long been under Google’s control.

Google’s legal team countered by urging a more targeted approach. The company argued that the court should focus on the default search engine agreements it holds with major tech firms like Apple, Samsung, and Mozilla—contracts that were a focal point of the Justice Department’s original case.

“These agreements are where the issue lies,” said John Schmidtlein, Google’s lead trial counsel. “Breaking up our products is not only unnecessary—it’s harmful to users and innovation.”

The stakes in the case, US v. Google, are considerable. A ruling in favour of the Justice Department could set a precedent for tackling monopolistic practices in the digital economy. Meanwhile, Google faces additional legal challenges, including a ruling that it holds a monopoly over online advertising tools and a separate loss to Epic Games over app store practices.

With the rise of artificial intelligence, regulators have also warned that unchecked dominance in search could allow Google to monopolize AI services. Judge Mehta is expected to issue a ruling on the proposed remedies by the end of the summer.