The U.S. Justice Department is weighing the possibility of breaking up Alphabet Inc.’s Google after a recent court ruling determined that the company illegally monopolized the online search market. This marks a significant move, as it would be the first time in over two decades that the U.S. government has attempted to dismantle a major corporation for monopolistic practices, reminiscent of the failed effort to break up Microsoft.
Among the options being considered, the most severe would involve forcing Google to divest key assets such as the Android operating system and the Chrome web browser. Additionally, the Justice Department is exploring other measures, including making Google share more of its data with competitors and preventing the company from gaining an unfair advantage in the rapidly growing AI market. Another likely outcome is a ban on the exclusive contracts that were a central focus of the case against Google.
The Justice Department’s discussions have intensified following Judge Amit Mehta’s August 5 ruling, which found that Google’s dominance in online search and search text ads was achieved through illegal means. Google has announced plans to appeal the decision, but in the meantime, Mehta has instructed both parties to prepare for the next phase of the case, which will include proposals from the government on how to restore competition—potentially including a request to break up the company.
In addition to considering a breakup, the Justice Department is also discussing whether to force Google to sell off its AdWords platform, or at the very least, to ensure it operates seamlessly on other search engines. The department is also looking into requiring Google to license or divest its user data to competitors like Microsoft’s Bing or DuckDuckGo, as a way to level the playing field.
This potential move by the U.S. government could be the most significant corporate breakup since AT&T was dismantled in the 1980s. The decision will ultimately need to be approved by Judge Mehta, who would then direct Google to comply with the ruling. As discussions continue, both the Justice Department and Google have declined to comment on the possible outcomes of the case.
