{"title": "U.S. Department of Justice Pushes for Tougher Measures Against Google Following Monopoly Ruling", "body": ["The U.S. Department of Justice has officially ruled that Google Search constitutes an unlawful monopoly, a conclusion reached after a trial concluded in 2024. Although the DOJ sought to compel Google to divest or separate its Chrome browser, the presiding federal judge declined to impose that remedy. Efforts to mandate the sale of Chrome persist at both federal and state levels."], ["A Reuters report indicates that federal prosecutors along with state attorneys general are challenging the penalties established by Judge Amit Mehta. They seek more severe consequences beyond simply requiring Google to share search data with rivals. While the DOJ has not detailed its preferred alternatives, earlier proposals included divesting Chrome, Google Search, Android, or elements of these."], ["Google, meanwhile, has filed its own appeal aiming for milder sanctions. This request comes despite the company evading the most significant antitrust breakup in the U.S. since the AT&T divestiture in the 1980s."], ["The specific states and attorneys general involved in the appeal remain undisclosed, potentially a key element. The investigation into Google's search dominance began in 2021 during President Biden's administration and wrapped up in his term, but the appeals process unfolds under President Trump, who has voiced criticism of Google and shown willingness to leverage federal authority for personal and political aims. A notable instance involves the Paramount-Skydance merger, which advanced after receiving FCC clearance following Paramount's $16 million settlement payment directly to Trump in a related legal matter."], ["Google has extended concessions to the Trump administration through settlements such as a $24.5 million payment concerning YouTube, as well as contributions to Trump's inaugural fund and White House ballroom renovations. Comparable arrangements have aided other entities, including Nvidia, which expanded GPU exports to China after providing financial benefits to the government."], ["Despite these contributions, Google's regulatory challenges persist. One deputy attorney general remarked to journalists that Google has suppressed conservative viewpoints, while another described it as a risk to freedoms of expression and thought. As reported by Newsweek, these issues diverge from the original monopoly concerns that initiated the case years earlier, though priorities appear to have evolved with the change in administration."], ["The outcomes of the appeals by Google and the federal government, along with determinations on antitrust enforcement and required divestitures for Google Search, Chrome, and Android, could profoundly reshape the internet landscape. This scenario excludes the ongoing second antitrust action regarding web advertising, which Google has also been found liable in."], ["Michael brings a decade of experience in technology journalism, spanning coverage from Apple to ZTE. At PCWorld, he specializes in keyboards, frequently testing new models and assembling or upgrading mechanical setups for his desktop workstation during downtime. His work has appeared in Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, including live reporting from events like CES and Mobile World Congress. Based in Pennsylvania, Michael anticipates his upcoming kayaking excursions."]}