After a judge declared Google a monopoly on search last week, the United States is considering the consequences. One option on the table is to break up the company and spin off its services.
Last week, a US judge ruled that Google violated antitrust law, spending billions of dollars to create an illegal monopoly and become the default search engine around the world.
Now, US Justice Department officials are considering what consequences to impose on the company. According to three people With knowledge of conversations involving the agency and state attorneys general that helped bring the case.
Several proposals are being put forward, including separating Google, such as the Chrome browser or the Android operating system for smartphones, according to the same sources who declined to reveal their identity, as the process is confidential.
In addition, other scenarios are being considered, such as forcing Google to make its data available to competitors, or forcing it to abandon agreements that have made its search engine the default option on devices like the iPhone.
The US government will meet with companies and other experts to discuss its proposals to limit Google's power.
These deliberations are still in the early stages. Ultimately, Judge Amit P. Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, who is overseeing the case, has asked the Justice Department and Google to file a motion to rule by September 4. In addition, a hearing is scheduled for September 6 to discuss next steps.
At this time, no final decision has been made.
Emily Brontë is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, literature, and current affairs. She is dedicated to producing clear, accurate reporting that helps readers stay informed about developments in the UK and around the world.
