Google’s pushback and trial stakes

Google has sharply criticized the DOJ’s proposals, calling them “staggering” and warning that they could harm American technological leadership. The company argued that measures like forced divestitures and data-sharing mandates could weaken its competitive edge and disrupt the broader digital ecosystem.

“We’ve invested billions of dollars in Chrome and Android. Breaking them would change their business models, raise the cost of devices, and undermine competition with Apple,” Google said in a blog post in October.

The upcoming trial is expected to highlight the role of artificial intelligence in reshaping the online search landscape. Prosecutors plan to call witnesses from major AI players, including OpenAI, Perplexity, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms, to underscore the competitive challenges Google’s practices pose to innovation.