Tech Giant Google Faces Government Split

Google is in hot water as the U. S. government tries to break up the company. It is accused of turning its search engine into an illegal monopoly. The legal battle is unfolding in a Washington courtroom. The court will decide how to punish Google for its monopoly in search. The government wants to stop Google from using artificial intelligence to stay on top. It is a big deal. It could change how Google operates. The government wants to force Google to stop making deals with other tech companies. These deals help Google stay in control of the search market. The government also wants Google to share its user data with competitors. It wants Google to sell its popular Chrome browser. Google's lawyer says the government's plans are too harsh. He argues that they won't help competition. He believes they will just help weaker rivals with bad technology. The government filed a lawsuit against Google four-and-a-half years ago. It accused Google of abusing its power in the search market. A judge ruled that Google had been making unfair deals. These deals kept Google as the main search engine on many devices. Google started as a small company in a garage. It has grown into a tech powerhouse. It offers many services beyond search, like email and online video. The government wants to prove that big steps are needed to control Google. It says Google's actions have created a huge economic force. This force harms the marketplace. The government wants to make sure Google's AI doesn't strengthen its search monopoly. Google's lawyer says rival AI companies are doing just fine. Google is worried about the proposed changes. It says they could harm privacy and security. The court will hear from many witnesses. It will decide on the penalties before Labor Day. This case is one of the biggest antitrust battles in the U. S. since the government sued Microsoft in the 1990s. Google plans to appeal the judge's ruling. It can't do this until the remedy hearings are over. Other tech giants are also facing antitrust cases. The government recently won a case against Google's digital advertising network. This could lead to another breakup hearing. The tech industry is watching closely. The outcome could set a major precedent.