NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A coalition of 38 state attorneys general and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have submitted a revised final proposal for a solution for what they call Google’s “illegal monopoly” over internet search engines.
According to Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, who leads the multistate coalition with Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, they have proposed a final package of remedies that will “restore competition to the benefit of consumers nationwide.” The proposal is a revision of a previously submitted final judgment from November, according to Skrmetti’s office.
The coalition has worked closely with the DOJ to offer what the enforcers believe is a comprehensive, legally sound proposal that promises to tear down barriers to entry and invite renewed innovation and consumer benefits in the monopolized markets, according to a release from Skrmetti’s office.
“We proved Google violated antitrust law in an epic federal trial,” Skrmetti said. “Now it’s time to solve the problem. Today’s proposed final remedies package holds Google accountable for its search monopoly and protects consumers by promoting competition.”
The package of remedies includes a ban on all search-related payments to distribution partners, including Apple and Android partners. Google would also be required to divest Chrome, with the possible divestiture of Android if the initial set of remedies prove less effective than anticipated or if Google fails to comply with the decree.
The state plaintiffs would further be entitled to preliminarily review Google’s future financial interests in online search and generative AI competitors for a limited period of time to ensure Google cannot use the same monopolistic playbook with new technologies, according to Skrmetti’s office.
Finally, the decree would deny Google of its continuing “exclusive control of ill-gotten gains” by requiring the company to share targeted portions of its search index, user, and ads data with its competitors for a limited period of time. The revised proposal takes a more refined approach to the sharing of these types of data, accounting for important privacy considerations, according to the release.
A hearing on the proposed remedies is currently scheduled to begin April 21 and conclude by May 9, according to Skrmetti’s office.
The full proposed list of remedies can be viewed online here.
