US government attorneys urged a federal judge Monday to force Google to spin off its Chrome browser, arguing that the rising power of artificial intelligence threatens to further enhance the tech giant’s dominance in online search.
This argument was presented at a hearing before District Judge Amit Mehta, who is tasked with deciding on remedies after ruling last year that Google maintained an illegal monopoly in online search.
Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater emphasized, ‘Nothing less than the future of the internet is at stake here.’ She warned that unchecked conduct by Google could lead to significant control over the internet for the next decade, not only in search but also in emerging fields like artificial intelligence.
Google, a major investor in AI, has been integrating this technology into its search and other offerings. In response, the company contended that the US government’s approach exceeds the original scope of the antitrust suit, which includes potential forced sales of its widely used Chrome browser and possibly its Android operating system.
Google’s President of Global Affairs, Kent Walker, criticized the DOJ’s recommendations, stating in a blog post, ‘The DOJ chose to push a radical interventionist agenda that would harm Americans and America’s global technology leadership.’ He described the DOJ’s proposal as excessively broad.
This legal battle against Google, initiated by the DOJ in 2020, gained momentum when Judge Mehta ruled against the tech company in August 2024.
Challenging Google’s Advertising Dominance
Google’s struggles intensified when a separate judge ruled that it holds monopoly power in the online advertising technology market. The ruling came as part of an antitrust lawsuit filed by the federal government along with several states, accusing Google of illegal practices in three segments of digital advertising—publisher ad servers, advertiser tools, and ad exchanges.
The court determined that Google had created an illegal monopoly over its ad software, although it partially dismissed arguments related to advertiser tools. District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema stated, ‘Google has willfully engaged in a series of anticompetitive acts to acquire and maintain monopoly power.’
The implications of these courtroom setbacks could lead to a reshaped Google, limiting its pervasive influence across digital platforms. Google has expressed intentions to appeal both rulings.
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