
Google has returned to court on Monday to argue that its presence is crucial for the US to compete with China and maintain national security. This development follows an August 2024 ruling where a judge determined that Google holds a monopoly in internet search, marking a significant antitrust decision in the tech sector since the Microsoft case over two decades ago.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) seeks a court order requiring Google to divest its Chrome browser and implement measures to dismantle its search monopoly. In a blog post, Google contended that such actions would not serve the national interest, especially as the global race for AI dominance heats up, citing China’s DeepSeek as a rising competitor.
“The DOJ’s proposal also would hamstring how we develop AI, and have a government-appointed committee regulate the design and development of our products,” wrote Google regulatory affairs vice president Lee-Anne Mulholland. “That would hold back American innovation at a critical juncture. We’re in a fiercely competitive global race with China for the next generation of technology leadership, and Google is at the forefront of American companies making scientific and technological breakthroughs.”
The ongoing trial in Washington, DC, will determine the repercussions of the August verdict against Google. Scheduled to conclude on 9 May, the trial’s outcome will be decided by Judge Amit Mehta, with a ruling expected in August 2025. Google intends to appeal if the decision is unfavourable.
Google plans to argue that its Chrome browser offers users the freedom to access the internet, with its open-source code benefiting other companies. The DOJ has proposed that Google share its search data, including queries, clicks, and results, with other companies.
“DOJ’s proposal to split off Chrome and Android, which we built at great cost over many years and make available for free, would break those platforms, hurt businesses built on them, and undermine security. Google keeps more people safe online than any other company in the world. Breaking off Chrome and Android from our technical, security, and operational infrastructure would not just introduce cybersecurity and even national security risks, but also increase the cost of your devices,” argues Google.
Federal judge’s ruling on advertising monopolies adds to Google’s legal challenge
In a separate legal development, a US court found Google’s dominance in two online advertising technology segments unlawful. Judge Leonie Brinkema of the US District Court in Virginia ruled that Google maintained monopoly power in publisher ad servers and ad exchanges, which facilitate online ad transactions.
This decision paves the way for a future hearing to determine what measures Google must take to restore competition, potentially including divesting parts of its advertising business. A date for this proceeding has not yet been set.