Key Points
- FTC supports DOJ’s proposal for Google to share search data with rivals, citing privacy safeguards.
- The DOJ aims to break Google’s search monopoly and proposes structural changes, including the divestiture of Chrome.
- Google opposes the plan, claiming it threatens user privacy and intellectual property.
- The FTC states that increased competition could lead to improved privacy protections across the industry.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has endorsed the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) proposal to compel Google to share search data with competitors, asserting that the plan includes adequate privacy protections. The proposal is part of the DOJ’s broader effort to dismantle what it has deemed Google’s illegal monopoly in online search.
In a landmark antitrust case nearing its conclusion in Washington, the DOJ has called for several structural changes to the search giant’s business, including data-sharing requirements and the potential divestiture of Google Chrome. A federal judge is now weighing these proposals after months of legal proceedings and input from stakeholders.
The FTC’s support could be pivotal. It stated that the proposed compliance oversight committee—akin to those used in privacy settlements—would ensure user data is protected while fostering greater market competition. According to the FTC, this competition could prompt Google and others to enhance their privacy protections.
Google has strongly opposed the DOJ’s proposal, with CEO Sundar Pichai warning that it would compromise intellectual property and harm user privacy. The tech company argues that making agreements non-exclusive, rather than enforcing structural changes, is a better approach and has already taken steps in that direction.
Beyond search, the DOJ is also seeking to curb Google’s dominance in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). It proposed requiring Google to notify the DOJ before making investments or partnerships in the AI sector. However, AI startup Anthropic, in which Google holds a significant stake, stated that the rule could deter investment in smaller AI firms and harm overall competition. Anthropic contended that such requirements would deter innovation and make Google less likely to support emerging companies.
The judge’s decision in the coming weeks could have sweeping implications not only for Google’s business model but also for future tech antitrust regulation in the U.S.
