Washington Washington. The proposed final decision of the US Justice Department has put Google at a crossroads. The DOJ has made a list of demands as part of the preliminary ruling to stop Google's monopoly in the search and search text advertising markets. Building on its previous measures, the US government has said Google should sell the Chrome browser – a landmark proposal that could significantly impact parent company Alphabet's revenues. While the main focus is on divesting the Chrome browser, the DOJ has indicated to Google that it may also seek to divest Android entirely. The US government has a blueprint to crack down on Google, according to a DOJ filing, aimed at addressing the search giant's “illegal” monopoly. Google responded to the DOJ's proposed decision in a lengthy blog post, calling the measures “utterly absurd.” Here's how the story has unfolded so far between the DOJ and Google:
point 1
The DOJ's latest judgment proposal for Google is an improved version of previously suggested measures to break up Google. By breaking up, the US government means breaking up Google's businesses into smaller units, some of which the company will not have control over. Essentially, the measures the DOJ has suggested are intended to punish Google for maintaining a monopoly in the market.
point 2
The divestment of the Chrome browser is a highlight as the US government sees it as a turning point in changing the way users access the Internet. Google's Chrome is the most downloaded browser worldwide, which is helped by a preloaded version of the browser on almost every Android smartphone. Since Chrome's default search engine is Google Search, it helps the company to increase its user base. Google has argued that separating Chrome “would jeopardize the security and privacy of millions of Americans, and diminish the quality of the products people love.”
point 3
Although this is not a pressing point, the DOJ has suggested that Google may consider the possibility of divesting Android. Google will be expected to follow through with the new measures, but if it finds solutions and they don't work, the company will lose the option to leave Android as is. The DOJ could then mandate an Android spin-out, which Google has already said would affect the security of the operating system.
point 4
The DOJ has also banned Google from making certain deals with other companies. The government has pointed to Google's multi-billion dollar deals with Apple and Mozilla under which Google Search has been made the default search engine in Safari and Firefox browsers. Google has argued that this could “harm innovative services like Mozilla's Firefox, whose business depends on charging Google for search placement.” Remarkably, all web browsers come with other search engine options, but most people don't bother to change the default option.
point 5
Google needs to stop giving priority to its search engine or other owned platforms like YouTube and allow its competitors or other platforms to access its search index for a fee. Google also shouldn't use Google Search to answer questions on Gemini. According to Google, this action involves “disclosing not only Google's innovations and results” but also “individual search queries” to “unnamed” companies. It said the DOJ's decision would “intentionally disrupt people's ability to access search engines”.
The DOJ will now file an updated version of its proposals with the government in early March. Meanwhile, Google said it will file its motions next month, while expecting broader clarification during a two-week trial in DC District Court next year.
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