DOJ Commits to Breaking Up Google in Final Search Case Remedies, Revealing Antitrust is Here to Stay
Washington, D.C. – Following the release of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division’s Proposed Final Judgment (PFJ) filings on remedies for the Google search case, the American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement.
“The Google search case remains the tip of the spear in renewed enforcement of our core anti-monopoly law, and we’re encouraged to see the Justice Department finalize a bold remedy plan that would unfetter internet search, advertising, and artificial intelligence from Google’s monopoly grip,” said Lee Hepner, Senior Legal Counsel at the American Economic Liberties Project. “After months of depositions and discovery, the DOJ’s updated remedies proposal provides clarity and precision while maintaining its core structural interventions, including the Chrome divestiture and potential Android divestiture. The proposed remedy would encourage competition in AI by denying Google the right to bribe distributors for preferential treatment, but the DOJ has also walked back its attempt to limit Google’s direct investment in AI products. Given Google’s deep ties to AI firms like Anthropic and the rapid evolution of AI-driven search, we should expect the court to grant the full extent of the DOJ’s moderated proposal.”
“The antitrust agenda against Big Tech is here to stay. To the extent there were concerns about continuity in the prosecution of this case, we’re proud to see ongoing bipartisan commitment to robust antitrust enforcement,” added Hepner. “The Antitrust Division remains committed to delivering a remedy that matches the spirit of its victory last year, and we expect Judge Mehta and the technical committee to do their part to make sure the next decade of tech innovation benefits society writ large.”
Read Economic Liberties’ Take on Effective Remedies to Break Up Google Search’s Monopoly and Restore Competition here.
Learn more about Economic Liberties here.
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The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.