The U.S. Department of Justice is considering taking serious action against Google after a court ruling found that the company has a monopoly in the online search market. According to sources close to the negotiations, one of the options being considered is to break up the tech giant.
Experts at the U.S. agency are looking at several possible ways to break Google’s dominance in the market. Among them, the most drastic would be to break up the company, which would be Washington’s first such attempt since its failed lawsuit against Microsoft two decades ago.
Sources said the most likely scenario would see the Android operating system and the Chrome browser spun off from Google. There is also talk of forcing a possible sale of the AdWords advertising platform.
A less radical solution is to force Google to share more data with its competitors. Measures are also being considered to prevent the company from gaining an unfair advantage in the market for artificial intelligence products.
Discussions have intensified after a judge ruled that Google had unlawfully monopolized the market for online search and search-text advertising.
As for the Android operating system, Google was found to have entered into agreements with device manufacturers that effectively shut out competitors. Although the company has indicated that it will appeal the decision, the judge ordered the parties to start preparing the second phase of the case.
A Google spokesman declined to comment on possible sanctions, while the Justice Department has also not commented on the case.
