Google faces an existential legal battle this week as the US Department of Justice (DOJ) pushes for radical reforms to dismantle its search engine dominance, according to AP News.
The “remedy hearing,” commencing on 21 April 2025 in a Washington courtroom, could force the tech giant to sell its Chrome browser, sever lucrative deals with Apple, and share user data with rivals, a move the DOJ argues is essential to restore competition.
The hearing follows Judge Amit Mehta’s 2024 ruling that Google illegally maintained its search monopoly through anti-competitive contracts, including paying $26 billion annually to secure default status on devices like iPhones and Android smartphones. Prosecutors allege these practices stifled rivals like AI-driven search startups, with witnesses from OpenAI and Perplexity AI expected to testify.
The proposed remedies include banning exclusive default search agreements with Apple and other manufacturers, forcing the sale of Chrome, which the DOJ claims entrenches Google’s search dominance via preloaded defaults, mandating data sharing with competitors to level the playing field, and potential divestiture of Android if initial measures fail.
The DOJ argues these steps are vital to prevent Google from “controlling the distribution of tomorrow” and to halt its “economic leviathan” from distorting markets. However, Google contends the proposals are disproportionate, warning they would “harm consumers, innovation, and competition” by destabilising ecosystems like Chrome’s open-source framework, which underpins browsers such as Microsoft Edge.
Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s VP of Regulatory Affairs, asserts that users “don’t use Google because they have to – they use it because they want to.” The company also highlights risks to browser developers like Mozilla, which rely on Google’s subsidies.
Meanwhile, privacy concerns loom large as Google argues forcing Chrome’s sale could compromise security for millions, while data-sharing mandates might expose sensitive user information.
Concurrently, Google faces parallel antitrust rulings. A Virginia court recently found it monopolised digital ad tech, potentially requiring divestment of its Ad Manager suite. The FTC is pursuing Meta over Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions, while cases against Apple and Amazon advance.
Despite bipartisan support for antitrust action, the DOJ’s stance has evolved under both Biden and Trump administrations.
