US officials threaten to break up Google

Core Viewpoint - US officials are considering breaking up Google's "illegal monopoly" in internet searches, following a judge's ruling that the company violated anti-trust laws to maintain its dominance [1]. Group 1: Government Actions - The US Justice Department has proposed measures to dismantle Google's monopoly, including restrictions on its products like Chrome, Play Store, and Android [1]. - One proposal includes blocking Google from paying other tech firms to pre-install its search engine or set it as the default on new devices, with Google reportedly paying over $26 billion in 2021 for such arrangements [1]. - A Justice Department spokesperson emphasized the need to end Google's control of distribution both now and in the future [1]. Group 2: Company Response - Google has stated that the court filing is part of a "long process" and confirmed plans to appeal against the ruling [1]. - Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google's vice president of regulatory affairs, criticized the proposed changes as excessive and warned they could jeopardize user privacy and security, hinder AI development, and disrupt software like Android [2]. Group 3: Legal Developments - A separate ruling by Judge James Donato mandates that Google must allow greater competition in its app store, including enabling Android apps from rival sources [3]. - This ruling is part of an ongoing legal dispute between Google and Epic Games regarding in-app purchases [4].