Google split-up trial continues

The trial over Google's monopoly position continues. The US Department of Justice is calling for the group to be split up. Specifically, at least the Chrome browser business should have to be sold. However, Google has already announced that it will appeal in such a case. They see the decision as weakening the US economy.

The current hearing was preceded by an initial trial in which a judge ruled that Google had a monopoly and had exploited this to its advantage. The case concerns internet searches and the associated advertising business as well as Google's default setting as a search engine, for example on smartphones. This default setting is available both on Google's own devices and on devices from other manufacturers – in these cases, Google pays money for it. So much money that even Apple says it is missing from its coffers. For Mozilla, the money that Google pays to set Google as the default search engine in Firefox is potentially vital to its survival.

In addition to the spin-off of Chrome, the Ministry of Justice is also demanding that Google make the data that the company collects via search available to other providers. Representatives of competitors such as Bing and DuckDuckGo are expected to testify in court, but beneficiaries such as Mozilla are also expected to have their say. The trial starts this Easter Monday.

Google warns of the risks of splitting up

The idea that Google should also split off the Android operating system seems to have been put to one side following the outcome of the first part of the trial. However, the ministry is calling for it not to be completely dropped. It is also possible that it will be taken up at a later date.

However, Google has already announced that it will appeal. However, as the two processes are connected, Google can only appeal against the first judgment once the subsequent trial has been concluded. In other words: Google can only take action against the monopoly position that has been established once a decision has also been made on what effects this has.

In a blog post, Google's Vice President for Regulatory Affairs, Lee-Ann Mulholland, writes that the Department of Justice is only considering the past – at a time of great competition and unpredictable innovation. This refers to developments around artificial intelligence, such as the fact that chatbots like ChatGPT and AI searches like Perplexity can significantly change the search engine market.

The demands of the US Department of Justice would also harm consumers and the economy, as well as the technological leadership position of the USA.

Mulholland also says it would make it harder for people to find Google on a smartphone and select it as their default search engine. However, this has actually already been adjusted in the EU. Google is not allowed to set itself as the default search engine on Android devices. When setting up a new smartphone, you must be asked which search engine you want to use.

Mulholland's blog post also states: "DOJ’s (US Department of Justice, editor's note) proposal would force Google to share your most sensitive and private search queries with companies you may never have heard of, jeopardizing your privacy and security." Google, on the other hand, has "first-class security measures" to protect the data from malicious actors – and to use it itself.

However, Google also warns against cyber attacks. It has developed Chrome and Android at its own expense for many years and offered them free of charge. The spin-off would harm companies that have built their business on this.

"Separating Chrome and Android from our technical, security and operational infrastructure would not only pose risks to cybersecurity and even national security, but would also increase the cost of the devices." Google hopes to find a more sensible way forward.

(emw)