Google has called on the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to reconsider its efforts to break up the company, citing national security concerns. Last August, a federal judge ruled that Google had illegally monopolized the online search and advertising markets. The parties are now preparing final proposals for the trial.
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Last week, Google parent Alphabet held a closed-door meeting with DOJ officials to discuss possible softening of the proposed measures. Sources say the talks were confidential and focused on ending monopolistic practices in online search, which were confirmed by a court ruling. Earlier, the administration initiated measures that included selling the Chrome browser and ending Google’s billion-dollar exclusivity payments to companies like Apple.
Google is defending its position based on its past interactions with regulators. Company spokesman Peter Schottenfels said, “We meet regularly with regulators, including the DOJ, to discuss this case. We are concerned that the current proposals could harm the American economy and national security.” In a blog post, Google’s general counsel Kent Walker also described the proposed measures as “a radically interventionist program that would harm Americans and America’s global technology leadership.”
Last August, a federal judge ruled that Google had illegally monopolized the online search and advertising markets. The ruling marked the first attempt to break up the tech giant since Microsoft was unsuccessfully broken up more than two decades ago. Google officials at the meeting emphasized that the company’s critical importance to the U.S. economy and national security required a more measured approach.
In November, the DOJ asked U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta to order Google to sell its Chrome browser, license data to competitors, bar payments to companies like Apple, and cut investments in AI firms. Google’s national security arguments have found support in statements from President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, and dovetailed with the stance of big tech companies opposing antitrust legislation in 2022.
Acting Assistant General Counsel for Antitrust Omeed Assefi is expected to make a final decision on the recommended measures as early as next week. Among the possible restrictions under consideration is a ban on Google’s investments in AI, which could affect funding for companies like Anthropic. Ahead of the April hearing, testimony is still being taken, including from Google CEO Sundar Pichai and search chief Liz Reid, underscoring the scale of the case. The court’s final decision will have significant implications for the tech market and the U.S. economy, and could spark widespread public outcry.