In a pivotal development in the ongoing antitrust case against Google, the tech giant on Friday responded to the US government’s call to recall its Chrome browser. Google suggested that the most effective remedy would be to prevent the company from taking advantage of its software’s market dominance as a condition of licensing its popular apps, including Chrome, the Play Store and Gemini.
The move comes in response to the US Department of Justice (DOJ) recommending in November a radical restructuring of Google’s operations. The Justice Department called for dismantling Google’s business model, including blocking its deals to make Google Search the default engine for smartphones and limiting its control over the Android operating system.
The antitrust trial against Google reached a critical stage earlier this year when US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google had monopoly power in the search market. The ongoing deliberations now focus on determining appropriate remedies for antitrust violations.
Google’s filing outlined a 12-page proposed order urging Judge Mehta to impose restrictions that would prevent the company from requiring preferential treatment for its software as a prerequisite for licensing. This measure would target Google’s long-standing agreements with mobile device manufacturers and telecommunications companies, ensuring that they are not forced to pre-install Google’s search engine or make it the default option.
However, the proposal stops short of responding to the Justice Department’s call for secession. Google argues that its proposed actions adequately address competition concerns without cannibalizing Chrome or other services. The proposed order explicitly allows Google to offer incentives to mobile phone manufacturers or telecommunications companies to distribute its products, provided that the agreements do not impose unnecessary obligations.
The Justice Department’s recommendation to break up represents one of the most significant regulatory challenges the tech giant has faced in decades. If passed, it would represent the most radical intervention since the government’s failed attempt to break up Microsoft in the late 1990s.
The Justice Department’s antitrust case focused on Google’s secret agreements with major smartphone manufacturers, including Apple. These deals, which involve large payouts, lock Google Search as the default engine on browsers and devices, giving the company unparalleled access to user data. The Ministry of Justice asserts that this data strengthened Google’s dominance in the global search market, creating barriers for competitors.
Judge Mehta’s ruling is likely to face appeals, which could extend the case for years and escalate to the US Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the outcome could also hinge on political changes, as President-elect Donald Trump’s administration is set to take office in January. The new leadership could choose to continue the case, negotiate a settlement with Google, or even abandon the legal battle.
Immediate decisions aside, the case has already signaled a seismic shift in U.S. antitrust enforcement, marking a departure from decades of relatively laissez-faire regulatory approaches toward tech giants.
