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Google Faces DOJ Push to Break Up Search Monopoly in Final Court Hearings

U.S. antitrust authorities seek Chrome divestiture and a ban on default search deals to foster competition, as Google vows to appeal any ruling.

Overview

  • The Department of Justice is urging a federal court to order Google to sell its Chrome browser, citing its role in maintaining the company's search monopoly.
  • Prosecutors also aim to prohibit Google from signing exclusive default search agreements with device makers like Apple and Samsung.
  • Judge Amit Mehta, who previously ruled that Google illegally monopolized online search, is presiding over the final hearings on these proposed remedies.
  • The DOJ argues that breaking up Google's dominance is critical to enabling competition and innovation, particularly in the growing generative AI market.
  • Google plans to appeal any adverse decision, potentially prolonging the case for years and raising the possibility of Supreme Court involvement.