Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with the U.S. Department of Justice and counterparts from 37 other states, has decidedly stepped up to challenge Google's dominance in the search engine market. The coalition aims to dismantle what they describe as Google's unlawful monopoly and restore fair competition for the benefit of consumers. "For too long, Google has maintained a monopoly as an online search engine," Raoul said, as stated by the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.
The legal battle traces back to 2020 when Raoul and a bipartisan group of attorneys general filed a lawsuit accusing Google of maintaining its monopoly power through anticompetitive contracts and conduct. A D.C. federal district court judge ruled this past August that Google did violate federal antitrust laws. It is now up to the courts to decide how best to enforce remedies intended to promptly end Google's deemed improper conduct which, according to Raoul, has "stifled competition and harmed consumers," as reported by the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.
An even more drastic measure called for by the proposal is the divestiture of Chrome, the browser integral to a significant number of Google search inquiries. Should initial remedies not be effective, the proposal further outlines potential subsequent divestitures from Google, including the Android operating system. Google is also prohibited from using its portfolio to unfairly favor its services over competitors or impede rivals' distribution. This includes a restriction to prevent Google from making its search or AI mandatory on Android devices and requires Google to allow publishers to opt out of data collection used for training Google's AI models.
On a separate note, the coalition is pushing for a public education campaign funded by Google. This initiative seeks to raise consumer awareness about Google's illegal practices while also informing them of available alternatives to its search engine. The campaign may include incentives, such as short-term payments from Google to users who explore different search engines. Additionally, the judgment includes the creation of a five-member technical committee tasked with overseeing the implementation, monitoring, and enforcement of these remedies over the next decade. Hearings on the proposed remedies are scheduled to begin on April 22, 2025. More information is available on the Illinois Attorney General's website.
