The US Department of Justice has just published a new version of its decision against Google. While the sale of Chrome is still on, the sale of Android is on hold. But the pressure isn't letting up.
The tech world could soon change forever. The United States clearly wants to end Google's monopoly, and the measures taken against the company are radical. It all began in 2020 when the American courts launched an antitrust action against the web giant. It took four years of proceedings to reach a clear conclusion: Google is indeed guilty of the charges, so it's done. In addition to a fine, the Department of Justice (DoJ) announced its intention to break up Google. To do this, it wants to force the company to sell some of its flagship products to competitors, clearly ending its hegemony. In its sights: the Chrome internet browser and the Android mobile operating system. A decision that Google vehemently contests and which results in the publication of a revised, slightly more flexible version.
Google must sell Chrome, but obtains a conditional reprieve for Android
The DoJ remains firm on one point. Google must sell its Chrome browser. It is on Android that the organization is backtracking, and for the moment, it remains in the hands of the company that saw its birth. Regarding artificial intelligence, Google's investments can continue, but they will still be scrutinized very carefully to avoid the creation of a new monopoly.
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Even if the Mountain View firm is not, for the moment, required to separate from Android, the DoJ is ordering the company to give smartphone manufacturers the reins. Forcing Samsung, Xiaomi and others to install Google applications by default is over. They will be able to act more freely in this area, which is reminiscent of the recent European changes that give users much more latitude. The pressure is not abating, however, and more and more voices are being raised to push the DoJ to go further.
Competitors are increasing pressure for the DoJ to force Google's hand
“As a data privacy advocate, I welcome the Department of Justice's decision to force Google to sell Chrome, but this is just a start. I want Google to sell the Android operating system,” says Rik Viergeve, COO at Murena. The French startup that makes smartphones focused on security and privacy echoes other companies taking the same position.
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“If Google can offer Android for free to its users, it’s only because it profits from them in multiple ways and in many markets. This makes it almost impossible for other operating system providers to compete, thus perpetuating the cycle of domination.” A sale of Android, present on 70% of smartphones worldwide, would be the first step in truly opening up to competition.
This is an essential prerequisite so that “users can benefit from a competitive sector in which companies compete with products that benefit consumers, rather than a large company like Google holding all the power,” summarizes Rik Viergeve. For its part, Google plans to appeal the DoJ's latest decision. It won't give up without a fight, and the fight is likely to last a long time.
Source: The Next Web
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