Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking to break up Google's monopoly, leading to a nearly 5% drop in Alphabet's shares, which have fallen nearly 13% since the beginning of the year [1][4]. Group 1: DOJ Actions and Court Proceedings - DOJ attorneys have formally requested U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta to compel Google to divest its Chrome web browser, citing Google's monopolistic practices [2][6]. - The DOJ's court filing accused Google of using "illegal conduct" to establish an "economic goliath" that disrupts the marketplace [3]. - Judge Mehta will hold hearings in April to evaluate the DOJ's proposals, with a final decision expected in the summer [9]. Group 2: Market Impact and Stock Performance - The selloff of Alphabet shares coincided with a broader market decline, with the Nasdaq index dropping nearly 600 points, or 3.2% [4]. - Alphabet's shares have decreased nearly 13% since the start of the year, reflecting investor concerns over regulatory actions [4][7]. Group 3: Proposed Remedies and Recommendations - The DOJ's proposal includes ending Google's default search engine partnerships with companies like Apple, which received $20 billion from Google in 2022 for this arrangement [7]. - The DOJ also suggests that Google should share its search and digital ad data with competitors to promote fair competition [7]. - Additionally, the DOJ recommends that Google divest its Android operating system if initial remedies are ineffective, but has dropped the request for Google to sell its AI investments [8]. Group 4: Company Response and Industry Relations - Google has stated it will appeal the judge's ruling and argues that the DOJ's proposals could harm consumers, the economy, and national security [9][10]. - Company executives have recently met with Trump officials to advocate for leniency in the search case, emphasizing potential national security risks associated with a forced breakup [10].

Core Points - The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is still advocating for Google to divest its web browser Chrome, a proposal that originated under the Biden administration and continues under the Trump administration [1][2] - The DOJ claims that Google's conduct has established a monopoly that disrupts the marketplace, ensuring Google's dominance [2] - The DOJ has modified its stance on Google's artificial intelligence investments, no longer seeking mandatory divestiture but requiring prior notification for future investments [3] - The DOJ's proposal follows antitrust lawsuits against Google, with a ruling indicating that Google acted illegally to maintain its monopoly in online search [4] - Google plans to appeal the ruling but has proposed alternatives to address the court's concerns [4][5] DOJ's Position - The DOJ maintains that the core components of its initial proposal remain unchanged, including the divestment of Chrome and restrictions on search-related payments to distribution partners [2] - The DOJ's current acting attorney general for antitrust emphasizes the need for action against Google's monopolistic practices [2] Future Considerations - The decision regarding the potential divestiture of Android will be left to the court, contingent on market competitiveness [3] - A hearing is scheduled for April, where arguments from both Google and the DOJ will be presented [5]

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Google is urging officials at President Donald Trump's Justice Department to back away from a push to break up the search engine company, citing national security concerns, according to people familiar with the discussions. Representatives for the Alphabet Inc. unit asked the government in a ...

Alphabet’s Google met with President Donald Trump’s government last week and urged them to back away from a push to break up the search engine company, according to a person familiar with the matter.The Justice Department is currently pursuing two anti-monopoly cases against Google – one over search and another over advertising technology.“We routinely meet with regulators, including with the DOJ to discuss this case. As we’ve publicly said, we’re concerned the current proposals would harm the American econ ...