Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, alongside a coalition of 38 attorneys general and the Justice Department, has proposed a set of remedies to address Google's monopoly over internet search engines. The aim is to restore competition for consumer benefit.
"Google’s business practices are designed in a manner that stifles competition and restricts consumers’ choices for search engines," said AG Campbell. "This proposed judgment is designed to hold Google accountable for its illegal monopoly and ensures that businesses can fairly compete in the digital economy."
The coalition joined forces in December 2020 by filing a lawsuit against Google, accusing it of maintaining its monopoly through anticompetitive contracts and conduct. This state-level lawsuit complemented an earlier federal antitrust suit filed by the Justice Department in October 2020.
In August 2024, a D.C. District Court judge ruled that Google had violated federal antitrust laws by maintaining a monopoly on online search and search text advertisements. The court now faces the task of determining appropriate remedies to curb Google's conduct and revive market competition.
The Proposed Final Judgment (PFJ), submitted in Washington, D.C., aims to terminate Google's search distribution contracts and revenue sharing agreements. It would prevent Google from paying to be the default search engine on any device or browser. Furthermore, Google would be required to share data acquired through its monopoly with competitors while ensuring privacy protection.
The PFJ also calls for divesting Chrome, which handles many Google searches, along with possible additional divestitures like the Android operating system if compliance falters or remedies fail.
The proposal seeks to bar Google from blocking competition or favoring its products via ownership of other assets such as Android. The coalition insists that publishers should have the option not to allow their data collection by Google for AI model training or use in Generative AI answers.
Additionally, there is a suggestion for a public education campaign funded by Google about its actions' illegality and available alternatives. This may include temporary payments from Google to users trying non-Google search engines.
A technical committee comprising five members would oversee implementing these measures over ten years.
A hearing on these proposed solutions is scheduled between April 22 and May 2, 2025.
Joining AG Campbell's efforts led by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser are attorneys general from various states including Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut among others along with territories like Guam and Puerto Rico.
In Massachusetts, Chief Will Matlack of AGO’s Antitrust Division manages this case.