Google under Fire: US Department of Justice Plans Drastic Measures

In just two days, Google, part of the parent company Alphabet, experienced significant legal setbacks that could profoundly influence the tech giant's future. Firstly, a U.S. court in San Francisco ordered Google to open its Android app store Play to competitors. Secondly, the U.S. Department of Justice could soon seek the breakup of the company to curb its dominance in online search. U.S. District Judge James Donato ruled that Google must revise substantial elements of its app business. Starting in November, Android users must be able to download alternative app platforms; additionally, specific payment methods from competitors must be allowed. This order is the result of a lawsuit by Epic Games, the creator of the popular game "Fortnite," which accuses Google of holding a monopoly position. Google plans to appeal the ruling and fundamentally review its app distribution model. In parallel, the ongoing lawsuit by the Department of Justice could force Google to relinquish key elements of its search engine services. The future of the Chrome browser and the Android operating system is under consideration until November. Google is also under scrutiny in the field of digital advertising. Several ongoing lawsuits accuse the company of illegally dominating the market for display advertising. Particularly pressing is an upcoming trial in Texas, scheduled for March 2025, which specifically focuses on Google's practices in digital advertising technology. The planned measures could have far-reaching consequences for Google and the digital marketplace.