Google expresses concern over Department of Justice's plan to split up Chrome and Android
In the US antitrust lawsuit against Google, which the Department of Justice is suing for monopolizing the search market and stifling competition for rivals, documents have been filed stating that the Department of Justice is considering 'behavioral and structural remedies' to reduce Google's dominance. While the documents do not specifically state that Google should 'split up its businesses or companies,' Google has expressed concern that the proposed measures 'go beyond the legal scope of the judgment.'
Case 1:20-cv-03010-APM Document 1052 Filed 10/08/24
(PDF file)
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In October 2020, the Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google, alleging that the company 'illegally maintains a monopoly in the search and search advertising markets through anticompetitive and exclusionary practices.'
Google sued by the Department of Justice for 'antitrust violations' - GIGAZINE
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In August 2024, Judge Amit P. Mehta of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that Google violated antitrust laws. Although the ruling did not accept all of the Department of Justice's arguments, it was considered groundbreaking in that it acknowledged that 'Google abused its position to maintain its monopoly position.'
Federal judge rules that Google is violating antitrust laws by paying to maintain its position in smartphone search - GIGAZINE
Following the ruling, the Department of Justice is considering measures to rectify the situation. There have been reports that the Department is considering a plan to sell some of its businesses and split up the company, but documents submitted by the Department of Justice once again reveal that the Department is ' considering behavioral and structural remedies to prevent Google from using its products, such as Chrome, Play, and Android, to block users from using Google Search and related products .'
In response, Ian Mulholland, vice president of regulatory affairs, said the steps the Justice Department is considering, including a breakup, 'pose unintended risks.'
DOJ's radical and sweeping proposals risk hurting consumers, businesses, and developers
Share search queries, clicks, and results with competitors
Mulholland pointed out that forcing search sharing could pose significant privacy and security risks. For example, search queries are often highly sensitive or very personal, and while Google has strict security standards to protect them, if the information falls into the hands of other companies that do not have similar standards, malicious actors could access it and identify individuals and their search history. In addition, sharing Google search results may create copycats, but it could also discourage other companies from innovating in the search field.
・Interference with Google's AI tools
AI is not only a new industry, but also an important industry for America's technological and economic leadership. Competition is still fierce worldwide, and it is not clear who the winners and losers are, so there is a big risk for the government to get involved, says Mulholland.
・Splitting Chrome and Android businesses
Google has invested billions of dollars (several hundred billion yen) in Chrome and Android. Google provides Chrome and Android and their underlying code for free because it helps people access the Internet and use Google products, and no other company maintains or invests in open source on such a scale, Mulholland argues. If the business were to be split up, the business model would change, device costs would rise, and Android and Google Play could be at a disadvantage in competing with Apple. In addition, Android and Chrome are used in a wide range of industries, including not only PCs and smartphones but also cars, fitness devices, and TVs, so it would have a wide-ranging impact. In addition, Chrome's Safe Browsing, Android's security features, Play Protect, etc. benefit from feedback from other Google products, so splitting them from Google could put them at risk.
- Changes to the online advertising system
Mulholland argued that Google's innovative advertising system levels the playing field for small businesses and publishers, helping smaller websites make money from online advertising, and that the government's proposed changes could tilt the market.
-Limits on search engine advertising
Google has various distribution agreements to make Google search easy to use, but Mulholland explains that government restrictions will only create friction with people who just want to 'search easily.' It will also reduce revenue for companies such as Mozilla and Android device manufacturers.
The Justice Department's proposed measures are still in the discussion stage and have not yet been finalized. A revised version will be submitted in November 2024. Google will also have an opportunity to submit its own corrective measures in December. Judge Mehta plans to make a decision on the response by August 2025.
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