Google under threat of dismantling

Google denounced “radical interventionism” after the American government asked the courts that the technology giant sell its Chrome browser, a potentially historic sanction for the search engine already criticized for its anti-competitive practices.

In a court document on Wednesday, the Ministry of Justice calls for a split of the activities of the subsidiary of the Alphabet group, also prohibiting Google from signing agreements with manufacturers to impose the default use of its search engine on smartphones.

The authorities also want to prevent Google from taking advantage of its Android mobile operating system to promote its other products. They are even demanding that the technological giant sell Android for failure to propose developments in this direction. If the intentions of the future Donald Trump government on this subject remain unknown, this request marks a profound change on the part of the American competition authorities who have essentially left the technology giants alone since their failure to dismantle Microsoft around twenty years ago. of years.

Justice officials “have chosen to promote a radical interventionist agenda,” said Kent Walker, Google’s president of global affairs, reacting to the government’s demands. Google was already found guilty last summer of illegal practices to establish and maintain its monopoly in online search by Amit Mehta, a federal judge in Washington.

The next step is now to decide on the penalty imposed on the company and therefore the responses to be made to its dominant position. Google is expected to make proposals next month before a hearing scheduled for April before Judge Amit Mehta. Regardless of Judge Mehta’s decision, Google is expected to appeal the decision, which will prolong the process for years.

The case risks ending up in the hands of the Supreme Court and remains suspended until Donald Trump comes to power in January. The Republican billionaire will place a new team at the head of the competition authorities and has blown hot and cold about his intentions regarding the technological giants. He has appointed, to head the American telecoms regulator, the FCC, Brendan Carr, who wants to “dismantle the censorship cartel” imposed, according to him, on conservatives by the tech giants such as Facebook, Google, Apple and even Microsoft. But the president-elect also indicated that dismantling would be excessive.

Amazing sums

The Justice Department wants Google to divest itself of Chrome, the world’s most widely used internet browser, because it is a major access point to the search engine, undermining the chances of potential competitors. According to the StatCounter website, in September Google accounted for 90% of the global online search market and even 94% on smartphones.

“The Justice Department’s approach would result in unprecedented government overreach that would harm American consumers, developers, and small businesses – and jeopardize America’s global economic and technological leadership,” reacted again Kent Walker, the head of Google.

Adam Kovacevich, chief executive of industry organization Chamber of Progress, said the government’s demands were “extravagant” and defied legal standards, calling instead for more targeted remedies. The trial, which ended last year, examined Google’s confidential agreements with smartphone makers, including Apple.

These deals involve substantial payments to secure Google’s search engine as the default option on browsers, iPhones and other devices. The judge determined that this arrangement provided Google with unrivaled access to user data, allowing it to grow its search engine into a globally dominant platform.

From this position, Google has expanded its technology and data collection empire to include the Chrome browser, Maps, and the smartphone operating system, Android. The ten weeks of trial revealed the staggering sums paid by the Alphabet subsidiary to ensure the default installation of Google Search, particularly on smartphones manufactured by Apple and Samsung.

The lawsuits, which were launched during Donald Trump’s first term (2017-2021) and continued under Joe Biden’s presidency, could reshape the online search market, if the judge accepts the government’s proposals.