The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has proposed several measures to break up Google’s monopolistic practices in online search. Among these recommendations are the sale of Chrome browser and sharing data with competitors.
Reuters and CNN reported these details in their coverage on Thursday.
Last August, a US court ruled that Google had violated American antitrust laws by establishing a monopoly in online search and related advertising. Google currently controls 90% of the online search market.
On Wednesday, the DOJ presented several recommendations to a Washington court to end this monopoly. The Justice Department stated, “Google’s illegal behavior has not only restricted important distribution channels but also deprived its partners who could have otherwise entered the market through new and innovative competitive methods.”
Google pays billions of dollars annually to Apple and other companies to remain the default search engine on tabs and smartphones. The DOJ has called for legally ending these agreements. Additionally, they recommended selling off Google-owned Android.
If these recommendations are approved, Google would face substantial fines. Analysts suggest this could end Google’s long-standing dominance in the industry.
The court has scheduled another hearing on the Justice Department’s proposals for April. By then, there will be a change in the White House. The new Justice Department under President Donald Trump could alter the course of the lawsuit. A final verdict is expected by 2025.
