US may seek Google breakup over search monopoly

October 9

STORY: Google could be forced to break up.

The U.S. said Tuesday it may ask a judge to make the search giant sell off businesses like its Chrome browser and Android phone operating system.

It all flows from an August court ruling, when Google was found to be operating an illegal monopoly in search.

Now the Justice Department is considering what penalties to demand, with a breakup among the options.

Another would be to require Google to supply rivals with the indexes, data and models it uses for search functions.

Officials could also seek to stop payments the firm makes to have its search engine pre-installed or set as the standard option for new devices.

Google pays billions every year to companies like Apple to secure default status for its products.

The proposed fixes will also extend to ensuring the firm doesn’t build a new monopoly in artificial intelligence.

Google denies all the charges against it, and plans to appeal the case.

But some of the possible remedies have previously been backed by smaller rivals like search engine DuckDuckGo.

Reviews site Yelp, which sued Google over search in August, says spinning off its Chrome browser and AI services should be considered.

Now the Justice Department is expected to submit more detailed proposals to the court by November 20.

Google will have a month after that to put forward its own ideas.

Whatever happens, it’s likely to shrink the firm’s revenues – and reshape how Americans use the internet.

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