Will the US break it apart?

The US is on the verge of breaking up Google after a court ruled that the giant corporation created an illegal monopoly. The breakup would bring about drastic changes, such as selling off the Android operating system or the Chrome browser. This article examines the many different options that could arise and the respective reactions to this momentous decision.

The Justice Department may be considering drastic measures against Google, the technology giant owned by Alphabet Inc., following the recent court ruling. A judge has ruled that Google has illegally monopolized online search markets. This certainly puts the company in a questionable position in terms of its power over the Internet. Proposals to reduce the company's power are appearing in magazines, and among the most drastic measures being considered is breaking up the corporation.

Reports from major media outlets such as the New York Times and Bloomberg News suggest that the Justice Department is considering forcing Google to sell its Android operating system and Chrome web browser. These are among the many other products Google has developed over time; in fact, they play a major role in the technology world. This could mean a potential breakup that includes the sale of key components, which would have a huge impact on the technology environment.

One of the central issues in this case is Google's own dominance in internet search. The company is accused of engaging in anti-competitive practices to maintain its leadership position by making deals with other companies to make Google the default search engine on their devices. In 2021 alone, Google paid over $26 billion to Apple and others to make Google Search available as a default option on popular services like Safari.

These exclusive contracts have allowed Google to squeeze out competition and build a monopoly that the court now finds illegal. The ruling is a significant victory for federal authorities that have sought to curb the dominance of the big tech companies. It's not just Google that's in the crosshairs – other giants like Meta (formerly Facebook), Amazon and Apple have also been the subject of similar antitrust lawsuits in the recent past.

The Justice Department is currently reviewing the judge's decision and deciding how to proceed. Although no final decisions have been made, it is likely that Google will be ordered to divest parts of its business. That could mean forcing Google to sell its AdWords search advertising program, its Android operating system, and its Chrome browser. The goal is to largely curb Google's overwhelming power and ensure fair competition in the technology market.

For some, breaking up Google alone is not enough. Other experts have pointed out that doing so does not really address the core of the problems cited by the court, such as Google's exclusive contracts that make it the default search engine on many devices. “The idea of ​​breaking up Google is, in my view, wishful thinking,” said Neil Chilson, a former chief technology officer at the Federal Trade Commission, who argues that Tuesday's ruling did not add weight to calls for such a serious remedy.

Chilson is not the only skeptic. Alden Abbott, a former general counsel of the FTC, warned that breaking up Google would have “catastrophic” consequences for the economy. He pointed to another case, that of Microsoft in 2001, where the court refused to break up the company at the end of a very long trial when it had been convicted of similar crimes related to monopolistic practices. Abbott believes breaking up Google is unlikely and would be one of the most economically destructive measures in the history of US antitrust law.

Following the ruling, Google has stated that it intends to appeal. Google says it has not broken any law and its practices remain within the scope of maintaining a competitive market. Google will therefore appeal – a move that will largely determine the future of the tech giant and its place in the digital world.

The Justice Department is considering other ways to limit Google's power, including forcing the company to share its data with rivals and implementing rules that prevent it from gaining an unfair advantage in new technologies like artificial intelligence because of its size. Such measures could level the playing field somewhat and give smaller companies a better chance of competing.

The situation continues to evolve and it remains to be seen what action the Justice Department will ultimately take. But one thing is abundantly clear: the fight against this monopoly has only just begun—and the stakes are high, both for the future of the technology industry and for all consumers worldwide.

As the case continues to take shape, hundreds of thousands will be waiting to see if the U.S. government will actually go as far as it threatened to – break up one of the most powerful companies in the world. The ruling could change the future of the internet and the way people interact with technology.