Regulators in the United States (US), have filed a statement, urging Amit Mehta, a federal judge of the Washington District of Columbia (DC) to break up Google in order to break it’s monopoly.
This was revealed in a 23-page filing which was submitted in the late hours of Wednesday, November 20 at the US district court, Washington DC.
“The playing field is not level because of Google’s conduct and Google’s quality reflects the ill-gotten gains of an advantage illegally acquired.
“The remedy must close this gap and deprive Google of these advantages,” the justice department stated.
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) recommended severe penalties, including forcing the sale of Google’s popular Chrome web browser and imposing restrictions to prevent Android from prioritizing Google’s search engine.
However, the justice department argued that selling Chrome would strip Google of its control over this vital entry point, allowing rival search engines a fairer opportunity to compete, as the browser serves as a key gateway to the internet for many users.
Although regulators stopped short of demanding Google sell Android, they suggested that if the company continues its monopolistic practices, the judge should consider this option, signaling that a potential divestiture remains possible.
These recommendations highlight the Biden administration’s strong stance on punishing Google following US District Judge Amit Mehta’s August ruling that labeled the company a monopolist.
Also, concerns over Google’s use of AI in search results have led regulators to suggest that Judge Mehta ensure websites can protect their content from being used in Google’s AI training
However, officials from the Justice Department under President-elect Donald Trump may not take as aggressive an approach.
If these measures are implemented, they could significantly affect a business projected to generate more than $300 billion in revenue this year
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