Google faces new remedies in US DOJ antitrust case
Potential remedies could include divesting business units like the Android operating system or ending payments to ensure Google’s search engine remains the default on devices.
The US Department of Justice plans to outline by December the steps Alphabet’s Google must take to restore competition after being found guilty of illegally monopolising the online search market. Prosecutors have not revealed specific remedies but indicated that their proposal would be comprehensive and consider Google’s plans to integrate AI into its search operations, including rebranding its AI product to Gemini.
Potential actions include requiring Google to divest certain business units, such as its Android operating system, or stopping billions in payments to ensure its search engine remains the default on devices and browsers. Google’s legal team argued that they need a detailed proposal from prosecutors to prepare a response, possibly involving information from AI rivals like Microsoft and OpenAI.
Google has said it plans to appeal the ruling, and US District Judge Amit Mehta suggested a possible hearing in the spring, with a final decision expected by next August.
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