A look back at corporate giants that have been broken up by the government

Google's future hangs in the balance as a federal judge in Washington, D.C. hears antitrust arguments regarding its monopoly in search. A ruling against Google could lead to a breakup, similar to past government actions against companies like Microsoft and AT&T. Microsoft, nearly split in 2000, faced lasting consequences that allowed competitors like Google to thrive. AT&T was finally broken up in 1984, resulting in more competition and lower consumer prices in telecommunications, illustrating the potential impact of government intervention on major corporations.

If the court rules against Google, the outcome could send shockwaves through the tech industry, forcing the company to divest major assets including its Chrome browser or Android OS.

The government made multiple attempts to break up AT&T, starting in 1913, but didn't succeed until 1984, leading to a significant transformation in the telecommunications industry.

Read at Fast Company