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Google execs were on the edge of their seats this week like fantasy football managers on a Sunday morning. The Department of Justice revealed on Tuesday that it's considering recommending a breakup of Alphabet's Google, a move that comes two months after a federal court found Google acted as an illegal monopoly to secure its position as the No. 1 search engine.
What does it mean? If District Judge Amit Mehta (who ruled with the DOJ in the initial trial) decides that a breakup of Google is necessary, the company would have to divest its other businesses, like Google Chrome and Android. But many legal experts are skeptical about the reality of a breakup, which is viewed as an extreme outcome.
Realistically, Mehta is likely to choose from other remedies recommended in the DOJ's filing, including:
Zoom out: Mehta will make his ruling by August 2025, though Google will undoubtedly appeal, setting up a yearslong legal back-and-forth. -- CC