Written by David Harrison.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly considering a bold move in its ongoing battle against Google’s search monopoly. After a judge ruled that the tech giant has used its dominance to stifle competition, the DOJ is weighing the possibility of forcing Google to sell parts of its business to break its control over online search. This consideration follows a recent antitrust trial that concluded Google has been unfairly exploiting its position for more than a decade.
The latest court filing indicates that federal prosecutors are seriously contemplating asking a judge to mandate these structural changes. The goal is not just to break up Google’s current power, but also to prevent it from using its other products—like the Chrome browser or Android operating system—to maintain control over future distribution channels. This would mark a historic shift in how large tech companies operate, especially when it comes to leveraging their various platforms to dominate the market.
One of the key aspects of the DOJ’s focus is Google’s default search agreements. These deals make Google the automatic search engine for many browsers, including Apple’s Safari on iPhones. Prosecutors argue that these agreements effectively block competition by making it harder for consumers to choose alternatives, ensuring Google’s continued dominance in search. The government’s proposed remedies would aim to curb these agreements, potentially altering the way consumers interact with the internet altogether.
The Legal Fight Intensifies
Google is not taking this quietly. In response, Lee-Anne Mulholland, the company’s vice president of regulatory affairs, has raised concerns about what she sees as government overreach. She warns that forcing Google to divest parts of its business could have severe consequences, not just for the tech industry, but for consumers and innovation in general. Mulholland argues that the internet is an evolving landscape, and heavy-handed regulations could backfire, stifling technological progress.
Judge Amit Mehta has already ruled that Google’s search engine illegally suppressed competition, but the next stage of the battle is to figure out how to fix it. The trial over these proposed remedies will stretch into next year, with a final decision expected by August 2025. Google plans to appeal the ruling, but the appeals process will likely drag on for years. In the meantime, the DOJ will submit its detailed proposal in November, while Google gets a chance to offer its own ideas for reform in December.
This legal standoff is shaping up to be a defining moment for the future of antitrust enforcement in the tech sector. With prosecutors aiming to break Google’s stranglehold on search, and Google fighting to maintain its empire, the outcome could reshape the internet as we know it.
Our Take
The DOJ’s push to dismantle Google’s control over online search is a necessary step in curbing monopolistic practices that harm both competition and consumer choice. Allowing one company to dominate so many aspects of the internet is dangerous—not just for smaller tech players, but for the public at large. Google’s influence over search results affects everything from the information we access to the products we buy, and breaking that hold could lead to a more diverse, innovative online landscape. However, the tech giant’s opposition is expected, and this battle will likely continue for years to come.
