Government Is Reportedly Considering Google Breakup After Antitrust Ruling
TownhallAug 23
The Facts
The US Department of Justice is reportedly mulling splitting up parts of Google to prevent a monopoly in online search and advertising.
In August, Judge Amit Mehta of the US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that Google had violated antitrust laws against creating an illegal monopoly and online search dominance.
The Spin
Narrative A
Breaking up Google is necessary to set the field of online search right. The company has long ruled over its rivals, often unfairly, as is now evident. However, breaking up the behemoth would still be a quick fix at best, and not enough to foster true competition. Regulators should also mandate the sharing of Google's anonymized search data with competitors.
Narrative B
Splitting Google would be an overreach that could harm consumers and stifle innovation. Google's success is due to superior products and services, not anticompetitive practices. Forcing divestments could disrupt the seamless integration of Google's ecosystem, potentially leading to a worse user experience and hindering technological progress.