Alphabet Inc.’s Google is set to face trial in Washington on Monday as the U.S. Department of Justice, backed by 38 state attorneys general, seeks to break up parts of its business, including potentially forcing the sale of its Chrome browser.
The antitrust trial follows a series of legal setbacks for Google, including rulings that it maintains monopolies in search and advertising technology.
The Justice Department’s case targets Google’s dominance in online search and its exclusive agreements with companies like Apple and other device makers to make Google the default search engine. Prosecutors argue these deals suppress competition and hinder innovation, particularly for emerging companies in artificial intelligence.
Witnesses from AI firms such as Perplexity AI and OpenAI are expected to testify.
The government’s proposed remedies include terminating default agreements, mandating the licensing of search results to rivals, and potentially requiring the divestiture of the Android mobile operating system if other measures fail. Google opposes the proposals, calling them excessive.
The company argues that removing its support for browser developers like Mozilla could undermine open-source development and raise smartphone costs due to reduced subsidies for device makers.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta will oversee the three-week trial, held in the same courthouse where Meta Platforms is currently facing a separate antitrust case. Google, which plans to appeal any adverse rulings, will present witnesses from Mozilla, Verizon, and Apple to argue against the proposed remedies.
