Google breakup: How imminent? Anti-trust drive aims to break its monopoly

The US Justice Department is seriously considering the idea of breaking up Google, the search giant owned by Alphabet.

It all goes back to August 2024, when a federal judge ruled Google had been illegally hogging the online search market. That ruling lit a fire under the DOJ to start thinking about big remedies, including the nuclear option: splitting Google up.

The case actually kicked off in 2020, accusing Google of crushing competition by paying out billions to companies like Apple just to make sure Google Search stayed the default on your devices. 

Fast-forward to April 2025, and we’re in the “remedy phase” — basically the part where they figure out what to do about it.

Hearings are still rolling, and Judge Amit Mehta is expected to drop his decision around Labor Day 2025 (September 1).

But here’s the catch: Google’s already planning to appeal, which could drag this fight out for years. 

And if you ask analysts at places like Wedbush, they’ll tell you a forced breakup is a long shot anyway — history says these kinds of big corporate splits almost never happen.

The DOJ’s proposed remedies aim to dismantle Google’s dominance in search (90% market share) and related markets.

These include forcing Google to divest its Chrome browser, which holds a two-thirds global share, and potentially its Android operating system, used by most smartphones worldwide.

The government also wants to end Google’s exclusivity deals and require data sharing with rivals like Microsoft’s Bing or OpenAI’s SearchGPT to foster competition.

Additionally, the DOJ is pushing for restrictions on Google’s AI (e.g., Gemini) to prevent it from reinforcing its monopoly in emerging tech.

Google argues these measures could harm consumers, innovation, and national security, claiming its market position was earned “fair and square.”

The US government’s push stems from Google’s monopolistic practices, which Judge Mehta ruled in 2024 have suppressed competition and innovation.

By securing default search status through massive payments and bundling Chrome and Android with Google Search, the company has created barriers for competitors.

The DOJ sees this as detrimental to consumers, limiting choice and potentially stifling advancements in AI and search technology.

The case also sets a precedent for regulating Big Tech, with broader implications for digital markets.

Beyond Google, the DOJ is targeting other tech giants.

A separate antitrust case against Google’s digital advertising network, ruled a monopoly in 2025, seeks to force divestitures like its AdX and DFP platforms, with remedy hearings expected later in 2025 or early 2026.

The DOJ is also investigating Apple for antitrust violations, while the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) probes Microsoft and examines Nvidia.

Meta faces scrutiny for acquiring rivals to neutralise competition, with a recent case involving Mark Zuckerberg.

These actions signal a broader regulatory crackdown on Big Tech’s market dominance.The timeline for Google’s potential breakup hinges on the remedy ruling expected by September 2025, but appeals could push resolution into 2027 or beyond.

Historical precedent, like the Microsoft case in the 1990s, suggests breakups are rare—Microsoft’s split was overturned on appeal.

Google’s national security arguments and the Trump administration’s stance may further complicate outcomes.

While the DOJ’s push is aggressive, a full breakup remains uncertain, with less drastic measures like fines or deal restrictions more likely in the near term.