BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a coalition of 38 attorneys general and the U.S. Department of Justice in proposing a final set of remedies to dismantle Google’s monopoly over internet search engines. The proposed package aims to restore competition and benefit consumers nationwide.
This proposal follows a landmark decision (PDF) last year where a D.C. federal district court judge ruled Google to be a monopolist in online search. The coalition’s initial filing, submitted in November, outlined similar remedies to the ones currently proposed.
“Because Google has secured a dominant position in the search market and faces little meaningful competition, it can amass billions in digital advertising revenue without the pressure to improve the quality of its search engine,” said Attorney General Brown. He emphasized the importance of holding companies accountable and protecting Marylanders from the negative impacts of unlawful monopolies.
The proposed remedies include a ban on Google’s search-related payments to distribution partners, such as Apple and Android. Additionally, Google might be required to divest Chrome and, potentially, Android if the initial remedies prove ineffective or Google fails to comply.
To prevent Google from leveraging its monopoly in new technologies, the plaintiffs seek the right to review Google’s future financial interests in online search and generative AI competitors for a limited period.
The decree also proposes to share portions of Google’s search index, user, and ads data with competitors for a limited time. This measure aims to prevent Google from profiting from its past monopolistic practices. The revised proposal has been refined to address privacy concerns and protect national security.
A hearing on the proposed remedies is scheduled to take place between April 21 and May 9, 2025.
This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.
Image via Pixabay
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