Google's Search Chief Criticizes DOJ's Proposed Remedies, Warns of User Trust Issues

Elizabeth Reid, Google's head of search, testified that the Justice Department's proposed remedies to address Google's search monopoly—such as requiring the divestiture of Chrome and sharing Google's search data and ranking signals with competitors—could severely undermine user trust and risk user privacy. Reid argued that once sensitive search data is given to competitors, especially smaller startups, there would be no way to guarantee its security, potentially making these companies targets for hackers. She warned that users might lose trust in Google and other search products, fearing their data could be exposed or misused, which could discourage them from using Google for sensitive queries. Google also contends that these remedies could slow innovation and disrupt the broader ecosystem of Google products. The DOJ, however, maintains that its proposals are necessary to restore competition and argues that potential risks to user privacy are minimal, referencing past data-sharing arrangements that did not result in problems. The judge is set to determine what remedies will be applied in the coming months.