The concluding arguments in the high-profile antitrust trial against Alphabet’s Google are set to take place on Friday. Both the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and state prosecutors are demanding that the tech company either divest its Chrome browser or implement other measures to reinvigorate competition within the online search landscape.
The DOJ, along with a coalition of states, is advocating for Google to not only sell Chrome but also to provide access to its search data. They are also calling for the cessation of the substantial payments Google makes to Apple and other device manufacturers, as well as wireless carriers that designate Google as the default search engine for new products.
These recommendations follow a judicial finding from the previous year, which determined that Google has been illegally monopolizing the online search and advertising sectors. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has already started to disrupt Google’s longstanding dominance in information retrieval online.
The trial, which commenced in April, is being presided over by US District Judge Amit Mehta. Judge Mehta has indicated that he hopes to reach a decision regarding the proposed measures by August.
Should the court mandate the sale of Chrome, OpenAI has expressed interest in acquiring the browser. During the trial, OpenAI’s product head for ChatGPT, Nick Turley, noted that having access to Google’s search data could significantly enhance the accuracy and relevance of responses generated by the AI company.
Google maintains that the enforcement actions are excessive and exceed the legal boundaries established by the earlier court ruling, suggesting they would effectively hand over proprietary technology to its rival companies. In response, Google has already started to modify its agreements with smartphone manufacturers, such as Samsung Electronics, to permit the installation of competing search and AI applications.
The DOJ is advocating for more rigorous measures, which include preventing Google from making lucrative payments for the installation of its search application on devices.
© Thomson Reuters 2025
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