Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced that a coalition of 38 attorneys general and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have proposed a final set of remedies to break up Google’s monopoly over internet search engines. The proposal, which follows a landmark antitrust ruling, could force Google to divest its Chrome browser and, if necessary, additional assets such as Android.
Weiser, who led the bipartisan coalition that includes states like Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, stated that the remedies aim to restore competition in the search marketplace. “For years, the Google browser has been the dominant gateway for users to search the internet,” he said. “Our proposed remedies are designed to restore competition in the search marketplace and benefit consumers.”
The coalition’s proposal marks a significant escalation in efforts to dismantle Google’s control over online search and search advertising. The federal judge ruling in 2023 determined that Google holds a monopoly, citing its overwhelming market dominance. Reports estimate that 3.45 billion people worldwide currently use Chrome as their browser.
While the initial proposal required Google to sell its artificial intelligence investments, the revised judgment no longer includes that requirement. However, if the proposed remedies fail or Google attempts to circumvent them, further action, including the sale of Android, remains on the table.
Google has strongly opposed the ruling and intends to appeal. Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs, criticized the DOJ’s plan, calling it “an interventionist agenda” that exceeds the scope of the court’s ruling. “DOJ’s proposal would harm American consumers and undermine America’s global technology leadership,” she stated.
Google has filed its own set of proposed remedies, significantly different from those put forward by the DOJ and state attorneys general. Unlike the coalition’s plan, Google’s proposal does not include divesting Chrome but does offer increased government oversight.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, a Republican, joined Democrat Phil Weiser in leading the coalition, demonstrating a bipartisan effort to challenge Google’s market dominance. “We proved Google violated antitrust law in an epic federal trial,” Skrmetti said. “Now it’s time to solve the problem.”
A hearing on the proposed remedies is scheduled to begin on April 21 and conclude by May 9. The outcome could reshape the landscape of internet search and competition in the tech industry.
