U.S. Considers Google Breakup to Address Search Monopoly

U.S. May Force Google to Break Up Over Search Monopoly

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering a major action against Google to address its monopoly on online search, which dominates 90% of the U.S. market. Following a ruling by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, Google was found to have built an illegal monopoly, marking a pivotal moment in antitrust enforcement.

Prosecutors have indicated that forcing Google to divest parts of its business is among the remedies under consideration. A detailed proposal from the DOJ is expected by November 20, while Google will have until December 20 to present its solutions.

Competitors Call for Google Breakup

Several companies, including Yelp and DuckDuckGo, are pushing for the breakup of Google’s key assets, like its Chrome browser and AI services, to level the playing field in search. Yelp has also advocated for restrictions on Google’s preferential treatment of its business pages in search results.

Google Faces Increasing Pressure

Although Google plans to appeal the ruling, citing the quality of its search engine and competition from Amazon and others, the threat of a forced breakup looms large. Experts like Adam Epstein, co-CEO of adMarketplace, believe that the possibility of divestiture may be the only way to ensure compliance with less severe remedies.

Major tech players, including Microsoft and Apple, have yet to comment on the ruling. The outcome could reshape how Americans find information online.