The Justice Department says Google must sell the Chrome web browser to restore competition in the online search market, and it left the door open to the company needing to phase out Android as well.
The filing includes a wide range of requirements the DOJ hopes the court will impose on Google — ranging from prohibiting the company from entering into certain types of agreements to breaking up the company more broadly. The DOJ's latest proposal doubles down on its request to exclude Google's Chrome browser, which the government views as a key access point for search on the Web.
The possibility of an Android spin-out could be hanging over Google's head
Although the government is not going as far as demanding Google to shut down its Android business, it is leaving the option open. The prospect of an Android spin-out could hang over Google's head to encourage it to circumvent other measures, but the government says spin-outs could also be mandated if they find other solutions to restore competition in the market. Prove to be ineffective. The DOJ says Google itself could choose to divest if the company doesn't want to comply with some of the other rules proposed by the government against self-preference Google Search in Android.
Other measures the government is asking the court to impose include barring Google from offering money or anything of value to third parties, including Apple and other phone makers, to make Google's search engine the default , or to discourage them from hosting search competitors. It seeks to restrict Google from prioritizing its search engine over any owned-and-operated platform (such as YouTube or Gemini), mandating that it allow rivals to expand its search index “at nominal cost, and on an ongoing basis.” access, and Google needs it. Syndicate your search results, ranking signals, and US-generated query data for 10 years. The DOJ is also asking that Google let websites opt out of its AI observations without being penalized in search results.
Judge Mehta is now tasked with determining the best way to restore competition
The DOJ will file a revised version of its proposals in early March, before the government and Google return to the D.C. District Court in April for a two-week treatment trial. This is the second phase of the litigation, with Mehta now tasked with determining the best way to restore competition to the markets.
measure will be with test a new administration Overseeing the DOJ, which could ultimately influence the types of solutions it adopts. But the case was originally filed during the first Trump administration, which suggests Google won't be completely off the hook.
Google and DOJ are scheduled to deliver closing arguments separate antitrust case Being played in Alexandria, Va. on Monday in connection with his advertising technology business.