US seeks to break up Google over antitrust concerns

Google returned to court this week in a pivotal antitrust case that could reshape the digital landscape. The U.S. Department of Justice is calling for the breakup of the tech giant, potentially forcing it to separate from its popular Chrome browser. This move comes amid mounting concerns that Google has abused its dominant position in the online search market and could extend that dominance into the emerging field of artificial intelligence (AI).

“This marks the final chapter in a historic trial,” said Gail Slater, the head of antitrust at the Justice Department, during opening statements. “The future of the internet is at stake.”

The central issue, according to Slater, is whether the internet will remain open to competition and innovation, or continue to be dominated by a few tech monopolies. Last summer, Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google had engaged in illegal conduct to secure its monopoly in online search. The current hearings aim to determine the appropriate penalties.

This case is separate from a recent ruling in Virginia, where Judge Leonie Brinkema concluded that Google also holds a monopoly in online advertising.

The Justice Department wants Google to divest from Chrome, arguing that the browser is a key gateway to its search engine and stifles competition. Officials are also seeking to block Google from securing default placement deals with device makers like Apple and Samsung.

Google has rejected these demands as extreme. Kent Walker, Google’s President of Global Affairs, warned last November that such measures would give the government excessive power, potentially harming consumers, developers, and small businesses while weakening the country’s global tech leadership.

The concern goes beyond search. With the rise of generative AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, there is growing pressure to prevent Google from turning its existing dominance into a new monopoly in the AI-driven future of online search.

Despite political differences between the Trump and Biden administrations, the DOJ has continued to push the antitrust case, reflecting a bipartisan concern over Big Tech’s market power.

Slater emphasized that the fastest way to advance AI is through an open and competitive market. She compared Google’s dominance to past monopolies like Standard Oil and AT&T, signaling the government’s readiness for a lengthy legal battle that could ultimately reach the Supreme Court.