Google Proposes Remedies to Tame Search Dominance in Ongoing Antitrust Clash

Google, part of Alphabet, has suggested new constraints on revenue-sharing agreements with firms, including Apple, that set Google’s search engine as the default on their gadgets and browsers.

These recommendations arise from the US search behemoth’s ongoing antitrust dispute pertaining to its online search operations.

In August, US District Judge Amit Mehta determined that Google unlawfully suppressed its rivals in search, a verdict the firm promised to contest.

In a legal document submitted on Friday, Google asserted it should be permitted to carry on establishing such agreements with other companies while enhancing the alternatives it provides.

These alternatives encompass enabling various default search engines to be assigned to distinct platforms and browsing modes.

Google’s proposed solutions also include a provision for partners to alter their default search provider at least once a year.

The recommendations sharply contrast with the extensive remedies proposed the previous month by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), which urged Judge Mehta to compel the company to cease engaging in revenue-sharing agreements.

DOJ attorneys also insisted that Google divest Chrome, the globe’s most widely used web browser.

According to the web traffic analysis platform Statcounter, Google’s search engine represents approximately 90% of all online searches around the globe.

In a statement, Google referred to the DOJ’s remedies as “excessively broad” and noted that even its own counterproposals, which were submitted in response to a court-ordered deadline, would impose costs on their partners.

Judge Mehta is anticipated to announce a ruling in the remedies phase of this significant case by August, following a trial.