Google urged to separate Chrome amid AI-driven search monopoly concerns

WASHINGTON: On Monday, government lawyers encouraged a federal judge to require Google to separate from its Chrome browser, asserting that advancements in artificial intelligence could significantly enhance the tech giant’s power in online search.

This argument was presented by the Department of Justice at a hearing before District Judge Amit Mehta, who is deliberating on potential consequences following his influential ruling from the previous year that found Google had maintained an illegal monopoly over online search services.

“The very future of the internet is at stake,” stated Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater just before the hearing commenced in Washington.

“If Google’s actions aren’t addressed, it will dominate significant parts of the internet for the next ten years—not only in search but also in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.”

Google is actively investing in AI to enhance its position as a leader in the sector, integrating this technology into its search functionalities and other online products.

In its defense, Google contended that the Department of Justice has extended the case’s reach by advocating for a split from Chrome, hinting also at the possibility of a forced sale of its Android operating system.

The case revolves around Google’s partnerships with companies such as Apple and Samsung to promote its search capabilities, as highlighted by Kent Walker, Google’s president of global affairs.

“The DOJ has opted for a drastic interventionist strategy that could harm American consumers and undermine the country’s technological leadership on a global scale,” Walker mentioned in a blog entry.

“The DOJ’s extensive and overreaching proposal exceeds the bounds of the Court’s previous ruling.”

The lawsuit alleging Google’s monopoly in online search was initially filed in 2020, and Judge Mehta ruled against the company in August 2024.

Scrutiny of advertising technology

Google’s efforts to protect Chrome resurfaced just days after another U.S. judge determined that the company holds monopolistic power in the online advertising technology market—a ruling that could threaten its significant revenue streams.

In this antitrust litigation, the federal government, along with over a dozen U.S. states, accused Google, which is owned by Alphabet, of engaging in illegal practices to gain domination in three areas of digital advertising: publisher ad servers, tools for advertisers, and ad exchanges.

The lawsuit asserted that most websites utilize Google’s advertising software, leaving publishers with no alternative to the company’s ad tech, according to the plaintiffs.

District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema concurred with much of this argument, stating that Google had established an illegal monopoly in the ad software and tools used by publishers, although she partially dismissed claims related to advertiser tools.

“Google has knowingly engaged in a series of anticompetitive actions to acquire and sustain monopolistic power in the publisher ad server and ad exchange markets for open-web display advertising,” Judge Brinkema stated in her ruling.

She further remarked that Google reinforced its monopoly through anti-competitive customer policies and by eliminating appealing product features.

Online advertising is the cornerstone of Google’s financial success, enabling free access to widely used services like Maps, Gmail, and search.

This influx of revenue also permits the Silicon Valley giant to invest billions into its artificial intelligence initiatives.

Taken together, these legal setbacks could lead to significant changes for Google, potentially resulting in a restructuring of the company.

Google announced that it plans to appeal both judgments.