Google is currently facing lawsuits from the US Department of Justice for antitrust violations in two cases. The initial court ruling favored the DOJ in both cases, one related to search manipulation decided in August 2024, and the other concerning online technology advertising just last week.
This update pertains to the first case (search) that has returned to the court process. The DOJ proposed a remedy to divide the Chrome business into a separate company, an idea initially put forth by the department last year. The DOJ’s argument is that Chrome serves as a conduit directing web users to Google Search, thereby limiting the opportunities for other search engine services.
Google’s legal team responded by suggesting that any remedy should only focus on the agreement between Google Search and various web browsers like Safari, Firefox, and Samsung Internet, as this is the core of the case. Google’s proposal includes the company paying for space in browser search tabs going forward, with the provision for renegotiation annually, and allowing browsers to choose other search providers in private browsing mode.
This courtroom process is expected to last for a lengthy three weeks.
Source – The New York Times
TLDR: Google faces antitrust lawsuits from the US Department of Justice, with initial court decisions favoring the DOJ. The ongoing case involves proposed remedies such as splitting the Chrome business into a separate entity, with arguments centered around search manipulation and advertising practices. The legal battle is anticipated to continue for several weeks.
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