On Monday, the U.S. Justice Department urged a district judge to make Google give up control of its Chrome web browser. This move comes as part of a broader case against Google, which the Justice Department claims has been using illegal agreements to stifle competition in the search market. Google currently holds about 90% of the global search market, and officials argue that this dominance has harmed both consumers and advertisers.
During the court proceedings, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche highlighted that Google has paid Apple over $20 billion annually to keep its search engine as the default option on Apple’s Safari browser. This financial arrangement is part of what the Justice Department describes as a strategy to maintain its monopoly.
The case has a significant history. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta previously ruled that Google is indeed a monopolist and has acted accordingly. He stated last year that Google has illegally preserved its dominance in search engines. Blanche pointed out that the antitrust lawsuit against Google began during President Trump’s administration in 2020 and has continued through three different administrations, showing a rare bipartisan effort against a major tech giant.
Blanche emphasized that Google uses its market power against American citizens, claiming it has control over a vast amount of personal data and has suppressed certain political viewpoints. He argued that the case aims to address this monopoly and ensure that Google can no longer exert such control over internet search.
Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Gail Slater noted that the case has united various states and territories in the fight against Google. She compared Google to historical monopolies like Standard Oil and AT&T, stating that it has become a gatekeeper for information and commerce, affecting millions of Americans daily.
David Dahlquist, another Justice Department official, told the judge that this case represents a critical moment. He expressed hope that the court would take action to restore competition in the internet landscape for future generations.
As the trial continues, many are watching closely to see how the court will respond to these serious allegations against one of the world’s largest tech companies.