Google recently presented its own proposal in an antitrust case filed by the U.S. Department of Justice arguing that Google should be forced to sell its Chrome browser.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled in August that Google had acted unlawfully to maintain its online search monopoly, and the Justice Department proposed several remedies, including selling Chrome, spinning off its Android operating system and banning search. We have exclusive browsing agreements with browser and phone companies.
Google issued a replacement proposal on Friday, with Lee-Anne Mullholland, the company’s vice president of regulatory affairs, arguing in a blog post that the DOJ’s proposal reflects an “interventionist agenda” that “goes far beyond the court’s actual decision.” Submitted.
“The bigger problem is that the DOJ’s proposals would harm American consumers and undermine America’s global technology leadership at a critical juncture,” Mulholland said, including by requiring people’s personal search queries to be shared with foreign and domestic competitors. and innovate and improve our products.”
As an alternative, they suggest that Google could continue to do search deals with companies like Apple and Mozilla, but provide the option to set different defaults based on platform (i.e. iPhone vs. iPad) and search mode.
The company also suggests that Android device manufacturers could have more flexibility, such as preloading multiple search engines and preloading Google apps without Google Search or Chrome.
Judge Mehta is expected to rule on relief after a hearing in April next year. Mulholland said Google plans not just to negotiate for relief, but also to appeal Mehta’s August ruling against the company. But she wrote, “Before we file an appeal, the legal process requires the parties to explain what relief they can best provide to respond to the court’s decision.”
