The United States is considering how to break up Google after determining that the tech giant has a monopoly on web search services and search text advertising. Considering separating the Android operating system, Chrome web browser, or Play Store from Google.
“Google’s anticompetitive conduct has resulted in interlocking harmful harm,” the Justice Department’s filing released Tuesday said. Additionally, the company said it is considering “behavioral and structural remedies that would prevent Google from using Google Search and Google Search-related products and features through products such as Chrome, Play, and Android.” added.
The United States views the relationship between Android devices, the Google Play Store, the Chrome browser, and Google Search as an interconnected web of anticompetitive conduct. To fix this, the U.S. could force Google to educate the public about alternatives, force websites to opt out of AI training, show up in AI overviews, or force Google to Maybe share the model.
It could also try to cut costs for competitors or eliminate search and revenue-sharing agreements (like Google has with Samsung for the Play Store and Apple for Safari search). Google’s advertising practices could be overhauled or broken up, and Google would be required to share more monetization data with advertisers.
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Regulating Google’s AI tools could also be part of antitrust litigation resolutions, as the US sees AI likely to “become a key feature of the evolving search industry.” We have already recognized this through our AI overview).
Naturally, Google is not happy with these proposals. LeeAnne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulation, wrote early Wednesday morning that Google’s sharing of search user data with competitors could compromise user privacy and security. Mulholland said he sees separating Chrome and Android from Google as fundamentally “destroying” Google, and that regulating or restricting Google’s AI tools “risks hindering American innovation at a critical moment.” “There is,” he claims.
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Mulholland concluded: “We believe today’s blueprint goes far beyond the legal scope of the court’s ruling on search distribution agreements. Government overreach in a rapidly changing industry is innovation and could have unintended negative consequences for U.S. consumers. We look forward to realizing our plans.” Argument in court. ”
Earlier this week, a US judge ruled that Google must allow third-party app stores on Android devices in its Play Store. This is a big win for Fortnite publisher Epic Games, which has been battling with Google and Apple over limits in their respective app stores for years.
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About Kate Irwin
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