The U.S. Department of Justice is demanding a sweeping breakup of Google’s search empire—proposing the sale of Chrome and an end to exclusive deals—in a legal battle that could forever alter the future of the internet.
At a Glance
- Justice Department seeks structural remedies against Google
- Judge Mehta previously ruled Google violated antitrust laws
- DOJ wants Google to sell Chrome and end search defaults
- Google defends practices as legal and pro-consumer
- Trial outcome could redefine tech industry regulation
DOJ Pushes to Dismantle Google’s Search Power
The Justice Department, backed by nearly 40 State Attorneys General, has opened a three-week courtroom battle in Washington, D.C., against what it calls Google’s illegal stranglehold on online search. The trial follows a landmark ruling by Judge Amit Mehta, who concluded that Google violated antitrust laws by securing default placement on web browsers and devices, locking out competition.
As reported by The New York Times, the government’s proposed remedy goes far beyond fines: it includes forcing Google to divest its Chrome web browser and prohibiting exclusive agreements with phone manufacturers and browser developers. Officials argue that these steps are essential to restoring real competition in the online search space.
“This is the time for the court to tell Google and all other monopolists that there are consequences when you break the antitrust laws,” lead Justice Department attorney David Dahlquist told the court, as cited in the Reuters coverage of the hearing.
Google Fires Back: We’re Just That Good
Google, for its part, maintains that its dominance results not from coercion but from consumer preference. In response filings, the company warned that the government’s proposals go beyond the court’s findings and would unfairly punish success while potentially harming users.
According to Newsmax, Google attorney John Schmidtlein argued that any remedy “must respond to the actual findings” of the court, not sweep more broadly in an attempt to engineer market outcomes.
Google also defended its deals with Apple, Samsung, and other partners as industry-standard practices, emphasizing that users can freely choose other search engines if they wish. Critics, however, argue that default status—especially on mobile devices—creates near-insurmountable barriers to entry for rivals.
Stakes for Silicon Valley and Beyond
If the court agrees to the DOJ’s remedy, it would mark the most aggressive antitrust enforcement against a tech giant since the breakup of AT&T in the 1980s. The ruling could embolden regulators to pursue similar actions against companies like Apple, Amazon, and Meta, all of whom have faced antitrust scrutiny.
The case is already drawing comparisons to the Microsoft antitrust trial of the 1990s, which also focused on browser bundling and default settings. As The New York Times noted, the outcome could fundamentally reshape how tech firms build ecosystems and compete for market share.
Watch CBS News’ full report on the hearing at Google Hearing: DOJ Pushes to Break Up Chrome Browser.
Whether the court forces a breakup or sides with Google, the verdict is expected to reverberate across the global tech industry, reshaping the rules for innovation, competition, and control over the digital economy.
