Google presses Trump's DOJ to abandon breakup plans, citing national security

[Alfonso Maruccia]

In context: Google was officially declared a monopoly in 2024. The Department of Justice under the Biden Administration was looking for a significant change of course in Google's business. Now, the company is courting Trump's DoJ in an attempt to get a different outcome.

Google is trying to convince the Trump administration that breaking up the company could have chilling effects on US national security. Quoting unnamed sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg said that Alphabet representatives met with government officials last week, asking for a more lenient approach to Google's alleged monopoly over online search and advertising.

The Department of Justice's investigation into Google's business reached a significant milestone in August 2024, when a US judge decided that the company had broken antitrust laws with its search agreements. Biden's DoJ was looking to force Google to sell the Chrome browser and make other strategic changes to its online empire. Mountain View lamented the "unprecedented overreach" by the federal government.

Google proposed changes to its search agreements with tech partners to limit the upcoming "remedies" the DoJ had in mind while also appealing the unfavorable ruling. With the Trump administration now in charge, Alphabet is looking to directly influence the DoJ while waiting for a new ruling from a federal judge next month.

Google spokesman Peter Schottenfels told Bloomberg that the company routinely meets with regulators, including the DoJ. The current proposals for a business breakup would harm the American economy and national security. To this last assertion, Google is working with the US government to develop an AI technology that defends against cyberthreats.

Mountain View's position aligns with recent statements from Trump, VP JD Vance, and other administration members against excessive government regulations. The White House lamented Europe's approach to tech monopolies and antitrust matters, stating that essential EU laws such as the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act are trying to turn US Big Tech into a source of revenue.

Google's antitrust case goes through its final phase in a few days. Interim Assistant Attorney General Omeed Assefi will share a new decision regarding Google's predicament later this week. It's a dice shoot whether the DoJ breaks up Alphabet, makes it sell Chrome, or cancels its investments in AI companies like Anthropic.

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Google presses Trump's DOJ to abandon breakup plans, citing national security

 

[NumberNine]

All the big players are coming out to write checks and beg, now that they know America is currently on sale at a discount. They see that plutocracy solidifying and they've got their own list of hopes and dreams that aren't technically legal or ethical under the current framework of consumer protections. Bottom line, they want what every other recipient of corporate welfare strives toward - more money and less laws protecting people. I could be wrong, but I'm fairly confident that Google's interests are in direct conflict with the spirit and the letter of the law so... they'd like the opportunity to buy more favorable laws.

 

[opckieran]

Heavily-Left Google is opposed to Leftist Policy being applied to them! Oh the irony…

 

[Dreadcthulhu]

I would like to point out for the record that the Dept of Justice's anti-trust actions against Google started in 2020, during President Trump's first term; the Biden administration decided to keep that lawsuit going.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Google_LLC_(2020)

 

[The Talking Tech]

And guess what.... Undoubtedly Trump would allow Google's request, because god forbid Trump does anything that doesn't end up in corporate corruption.

 

[user556]

What really needs to happen is Congress passes laws to ban tracking. And apply it evenly to all online entities.

 

[airbornex]

Google’s playing 4D chess here—first, they monopolized search, then they monopolized the courts, and now they’re trying to monopolize which president gets to decide their fate.

 

[Kirby1]

Trump will do whatever big businesses want as long ad they write him a check.

 

[Dr Roboto]

Color me surprised :eyeroll

 

[toooooot]

Everybody knows, monopoly is good for an ordinary man.
Who in their right mind would want to break it?
Not this guy.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Heavily-Left Google is opposed to Leftist Policy being applied to them! Oh the irony…

- How are they heavily left leaning?

Google has a market cap of 2.11 Trillion dollars and is one of the largest companies in the world, which automatically means they cannot be leftisit because leftism leads to failure and ruin.

Are you honestly suggesting a heavily leftist company can also actually be one of the most successful and highest valued companies on the planet?

If so, It sounds like your name needs to go on one of Trump's re-education lists.