DOJ Considers Breaking Up Google

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has informed a federal judge about plans to potentially compel Alphabet Inc's Google to divest some of its units due to alleged monopolization of the online search market. This was reported by Bloomberg on Wednesday.

Key Points

• Court Filing: DOJ officials suggested in a recent court filing that Judge Amit Mehta might require Google to disclose data essential for its search engine and AI products.
• Break-up Potential: Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported on potential break-up plans after Mehta deemed Google to hold an illegal monopoly in online search and advertising.
• Possible Divestitures: Google may need to sell its Android OS and Chrome browser as part of an antitrust settlement.
• Payment Practices: The tech giant could also be mandated to cease payments that ensure its search engine remains the default on numerous devices, including the iPhone from Apple Inc.

Competitor Perspectives

Several smaller competitors, such as Yelp, DuckDuckGo, and adMarketplace, have called for the sale of certain Google units, as the company currently controls about 90% of all internet searches in the U.S.