A hearing in Washington, D.C., has commenced to determine whether Google will face penalties for its monopoly status, which could include selling its Chrome browser. The U.S. Department of Justice argues this divestiture is necessary to increase competition in search results. Recent findings have labeled Google as an abusive monopolist, highlighting its practices stifling competition and innovation. The outcome may significantly reshape Alphabet's structure and operations, with a decision expected from Judge Amit Mehta by August 2025.
Google can compete, but they simply don't want to compete on a level playing field," Justice Department attorney David Dahlquist said on Monday during his opening before the court. "Google is now fearful of competing against rivals who will only get stronger with the proposed remedies in place.
The U.S. Department of Justice is arguing that Google should be forced to divest its Chrome browser, which the agency describes as 'one of the largest entry points that exists for searches.'
The hearing comes just days after Google was branded an abusive monopolist in a separate case that ruled the tech giant had illegally exploited some of its online marketing technology to boost profits.
The current hearing is aimed at addressing potential remedies, with Mehta expected to issue a decision by August 2025, according to a November research note from Goldman Sachs analyst Eric Sheridan.
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