U.S. Considers Breaking Up Google Amid Antitrust Concerns
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On Wed, 14 Aug, 8:01 AM UTC
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[1]
Breaking up Google an option being considered by US, Bloomberg News reports
The U.S. Department of Justice is considering options that include breaking up Alphabet's Google, a week after a judge ruled the tech giant illegally monopolized the online search market, according to Bloomberg News. Shares of the California-based company were down about 3% at 1401 GMT on Wednesday, having fallen in after hours trading when Bloomberg published its report late on Tuesday. A Justice Department spokesperson said it is evaluating the court's decision and will assess the appropriate next steps consistent with the court's direction and the applicable legal framework for antitrust remedies. The spokesperson said no decisions have yet been made. A Google spokesperson declined to comment. The verdict, delivered last week, held that Google violated antitrust law, spending billions of dollars to create an illegal monopoly and become the world's default search engine. The ruling is seen as the first big win for federal authorities taking on the market dominance of Big Tech. The DOJ's other options include forcing Google to share data with competitors and instating measures to prevent it from gaining an unfair advantage in AI products, Bloomberg's report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Divesting the Android operating system was one of the remedies most frequently discussed by justice department attorneys, the report said. Officials were also considering trying to force a possible sale of AdWords, Google's search ad program, and a possible divestment of its Chrome web browser, according to the report. Federal antitrust regulators have sued Meta Platforms , Amazon.com and Apple in the past four years, claiming the companies illegally maintained monopolies. Microsoft had settled with the DOJ in 2004 on claims it forced its Internet Explorer Web browser on Windows users. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai, Kirsten Donovan)
[2]
Breaking up Google an option being considered by US, Bloomberg News reports
Aug 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice is considering options that include breaking up Alphabet's Google, a week after a judge ruled the tech giant illegally monopolized the online search market, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday. Shares of the California-based company were down 1.4% in extended trading. The verdict, delivered last week, held that Google violated antitrust law, spending billions of dollars to create an illegal monopoly and become the world's default search engine. The ruling is seen as the first big win for federal authorities taking on the market dominance of Big Tech. The DOJ's other options include forcing Google to share data with competitors and instating measures to prevent it from gaining an unfair advantage in AI products, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Divesting the Android operating system was one of the remedies most frequently discussed by justice department attorneys, the report said. Officials were also considering trying to force a possible sale of AdWords, Google's search ad program, and a possible divestment of its Chrome web browser, according to the report. Federal antitrust regulators have sued Meta Platforms , Amazon.com and Apple in the past four years, claiming the companies illegally maintained monopolies. Microsoft had settled with the DOJ in 2004 on claims it forced its Internet Explorer Web browser on Windows users. Alphabet and the DOJ did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)
[3]
Breaking up Google an Option Being Considered by US, Bloomberg News Reports
(Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice is considering options that include breaking up Alphabet's Google, a week after a judge ruled the tech giant illegally monopolized the online search market, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday. Shares of the California-based company were down 1.4% in extended trading. The verdict, delivered last week, held that Google violated antitrust law, spending billions of dollars to create an illegal monopoly and become the world's default search engine. The ruling is seen as the first big win for federal authorities taking on the market dominance of Big Tech. The DOJ's other options include forcing Google to share data with competitors and instating measures to prevent it from gaining an unfair advantage in AI products, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Divesting the Android operating system was one of the remedies most frequently discussed by justice department attorneys, the report said. Officials were also considering trying to force a possible sale of AdWords, Google's search ad program, and a possible divestment of its Chrome web browser, according to the report. Federal antitrust regulators have sued Meta Platforms, Amazon.com and Apple in the past four years, claiming the companies illegally maintained monopolies. Microsoft had settled with the DOJ in 2004 on claims it forced its Internet Explorer Web browser on Windows users. Alphabet and the DOJ did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)
[4]
Breaking up Google an option being considered by U.S.: Report
The U.S. Department of Justice is considering options that include breaking up Alphabet's Google, a week after a judge ruled the tech giant illegally monopolized the online search market, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday. Shares of the California-based company were down 1.4% in extended trading. The verdict, delivered last week, held that Google violated antitrust law, spending billions of dollars to create an illegal monopoly and become the world's default search engine. The ruling is seen as the first big win for federal authorities taking on the market dominance of Big Tech. The DOJ's other options include forcing Google to share data with competitors and instating measures to prevent it from gaining an unfair advantage in AI products, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. (For top technology news of the day, subscribe to our tech newsletter Today's Cache) Divesting the Android operating system was one of the remedies most frequently discussed by justice department attorneys, the report said. OpenAI is a bigger threat to Google than U.S. regulators Officials were also considering trying to force a possible sale of AdWords, Google's search ad program, and a possible divestment of its Chrome web browser, according to the report. Federal antitrust regulators have sued Meta Platforms , Amazon.com and Apple in the past four years, claiming the companies illegally maintained monopolies. Microsoft had settled with the DOJ in 2004 on claims it forced its Internet Explorer Web browser on Windows users. Alphabet and the DOJ did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Read Comments
[5]
Breaking up Google an option being considered by US, Bloomberg News reports
The verdict, delivered last week, held that Google violated antitrust law, spending billions of dollars to create an illegal monopoly and become the world's default search engine. The ruling is seen as the first big win for federal authorities taking on the market dominance of Big Tech. The DOJ's other options include forcing Google to share data with competitors and instating measures to prevent it from gaining an unfair advantage in AI products, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Divesting the Android operating system was one of the remedies most frequently discussed by justice department attorneys, the report said. Officials were also considering trying to force a possible sale of AdWords, Google's search ad program, and a possible divestment of its Chrome web browser, according to the report. Federal antitrust regulators have sued Meta Platforms, Amazon.com and Apple in the past four years, claiming the companies illegally maintained monopolies. Microsoft had settled with the DOJ in 2004 on claims it forced its Internet Explorer Web browser on Windows users. Alphabet and the DOJ did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)
[6]
US Justice Dept considers rare antitrust move: Breaking up Google
The move would be Washington's first push to dismantle a company for illegal monopolisation since unsuccessful efforts to break up Microsoft Corp. two decades ago. Less severe options include forcing Google to share more data with competitors and measures to prevent it from gaining an unfair advantage in AI products, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private conversations.
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The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly considering the option of breaking up Google as part of its ongoing antitrust investigation. This move could potentially reshape the tech industry landscape and have far-reaching implications for one of the world's most valuable companies.
DOJ Explores Breakup Option for Google
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly considering the possibility of breaking up tech giant Google as part of its ongoing antitrust investigation, according to sources familiar with the matter 1. This development marks a significant escalation in the government's scrutiny of the company's market dominance and business practices.
Potential Implications of a Breakup
If pursued, this action could lead to the most significant corporate breakup since AT&T in 1984 2. A potential breakup of Google would have far-reaching consequences for the tech industry, potentially reshaping the digital landscape and altering the competitive dynamics among major technology firms.
Focus of the Antitrust Investigation
The DOJ's investigation is centered on Google's dominance in the digital advertising market 3. The company's vast reach across various digital platforms and services has raised concerns about its ability to leverage its market position unfairly.
Google's Response and Market Position
Google, owned by parent company Alphabet Inc., has consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintains that it operates in a highly competitive market 4. The company argues that its services provide value to consumers and businesses alike, fostering innovation in the digital space.
Broader Context of Tech Regulation
This development comes amid growing global scrutiny of big tech companies. Regulators and lawmakers worldwide are grappling with concerns over data privacy, market competition, and the societal impact of large technology firms 5. The outcome of this investigation could set precedents for how governments approach regulation of the tech industry in the future.
Potential Outcomes and Timeline
While breaking up Google is being considered as an option, it remains unclear whether the DOJ will ultimately pursue this course of action. The investigation is ongoing, and any decision to break up the company would likely face significant legal challenges and a protracted court battle. The timeline for a potential breakup, if pursued, could extend over several years.
Impact on Consumers and the Tech Ecosystem
A potential breakup of Google could have significant implications for consumers and the broader tech ecosystem. It could lead to changes in how digital advertising is bought and sold, affect the development and distribution of mobile operating systems, and potentially alter the landscape of internet search and other digital services that have become integral to daily life.
Reference
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U.S. News & World Report
|Breaking up Google an Option Being Considered by US, Bloomberg News Reports
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