The DOJ may break up Google

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As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience navigating digital landscapes, I can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu as I witness this unfolding battle between Google and the authorities. It seems like an epic quest in a game where I’ve seen many monopolies fall and new contenders rise, only to be dethroned again.

This summer, Google faced an antitrust case concerning its search engine and was classified as a monopoly. Consequently, the government is examining methods to diminish Google’s dominance in online search. In a recent court document, the Department of Justice disclosed that it’s contemplating splitting up Google, along with other potential solutions.

Yesterday, the Department of Justice submitted a court filing in Washington D.C., proposing remedies aimed at addressing Google’s dominance in the search market. The filing highlights how Google leverages its other services to promote its search engine over others.

In a similar fashion, plaintiffs are contemplating both behavioral and structural adjustments aimed at restricting Google from leveraging services like Chrome, Play, and Android to unduly benefit Google Search and associated products and features – including innovative search access points and AI-related technologies – against competitors or fresh market participants.

An alternative approach might involve smartphones requesting users’ chosen search engine, rather than automatically setting it to Google. At present, Google has an arrangement with Apple that designates Google as the default search engine for iPhones and related gadgets.

This morning, Google expressed its views about the recent news in a blog post, labeling the suggested modifications as “drastic” and “extending far beyond the particular legal issues at hand.” As both parties are scheduled to confront each other in court next year, keep an eye out for further developments on this topic here at Shacknews.

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2024-10-09 17:57