Google Faces DOJ Monopoly Ruling in Court Closing Arguments

Google is facing the final stage of a landmark antitrust case in federal court, where the U.S. Department of Justice seeks to impose sweeping remedies after declaring Google's search engine an illegal monopoly. The DOJ aims to ban Google from paying to be the default search engine on smart devices and to force the sale of its Chrome browser, arguing that Google's dominance has stifled competition and must be broken before AI reshapes the market. Google counters that the proposed measures are extreme and unnecessary, emphasizing that advances in AI are already transforming search and that alternative AI-driven options are emerging. Google’s regulatory affairs vice president criticized the DOJ’s proposals, highlighting a lack of consumer benefits and accusing rivals of seeking access to Google's technology to avoid innovation. The case, overseen by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, is expected to yield a decision before Labor Day, with Google planning to appeal any ruling mandating remedies. This legal battle underscores the tension between regulating monopolistic practices and adapting to rapid technological shifts in AI-driven search.