Google and the US Department of Justice are back in court to determine the remedies for Google's search monopoly. The DOJ is pushing for significant changes, including the sale of Chrome, licensing search data to competitors, and ending exclusive deals. Google argues these measures would harm consumers and stifle innovation, proposing alternatives like revenue sharing with competitors. Judge Amit Mehta, who previously ruled Google's dominance illegal, will oversee the three-week trial, with a decision expected by August. The core issue revolves around Google's $26 billion in payments to companies like Apple to maintain its default search engine status, effectively blocking competition. The DOJ also wants oversight over Google's AI investments to prevent further monopolisation.
The government argues that Google's anti-competitive behaviour has stifled innovation and harmed consumers, while Google contends that the proposed remedies are anticompetitive and would lead to inferior search experiences. The DOJ has criticised Google's proposed remedies as insufficient, arguing they would allow Google to continue unlawful practices and retain the benefits of its violations. The outcome of this trial could reshape the search market and have significant implications for the tech industry, potentially leading to a breakup of Google, the first since AT&T in 1982.