Alphabet(GOOG) CNBC·2025-04-09 20:47Core Points - Google has reversed its policy that prohibited employees from discussing the ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, following a settlement with the Alphabet Workers Union [1][2][4] - The U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google in 2020, alleging the company maintained its market share through strong barriers to entry [3] - The reversal of the policy is seen as a significant victory for Google employees, who have faced increased censorship on various topics since 2019 [2][8] Company Policy Changes - Google announced it will not enforce broad rules that restrict employees' rights to comment on the antitrust lawsuit and its potential impact on employment conditions [4][7] - The settlement with the Alphabet Workers Union emphasizes that employees have the right to discuss their employment and union activities without interference from the company [7][8] Legal Context - A U.S. District Court judge ruled in August that Google held an illegal monopoly in the search market, and the company plans to appeal this decision [6] - The DOJ is considering structural remedies, including the potential breakup of Google's Chrome web browser, which is argued to provide an unfair advantage in the search market [5][6] Union Involvement - The Alphabet Workers Union filed an unfair labor practice charge against Google, claiming that a directive from Google's president to refrain from commenting on the case was overly broad [6][8] - Union representatives believe that the outcomes of the upcoming remedies trial could significantly affect wages, working conditions, and employment terms for Google employees [9]