Google antitrust showdown: 4 potential moves that could transform search and tech

The Justice Department’s high-profile antitrust battle with Google is nearing a decisive moment.

In August 2025, US District Judge Amit Mehta is expected to rule on how to address Google’s dominance in internet search and advertising, a decision that could reshape both the company’s business model and the future of the online search market.

The Justice Department’s case against Google, launched back in 2020, claims the company locked in its dominance by cutting deals with device makers and web browsers to make Google the default search engine almost everywhere.

That arrangement left little room for competitors to grow, since few could match Google’s scale or visibility.

In 2024, Judge Amit Mehta agreed that Google holds a monopoly, shifting the fight to what remedies might actually restore fair competition.

On one side, the DOJ is pushing bold ideas, potentially forcing Google to spin off its Chrome browser or even its Android system to break its control over search.

On the other hand, Google argues for lighter measures that would simply restrict certain practices, like exclusive default agreements and paid placement deals, while leaving its core businesses intact.

Judge Mehta has hinted he’s considering something in between, aiming to strike a balance between tough enforcement and practical outcomes for the digital marketplace.

4 big changes that can come in play

Several potential remedies are on the table, with varying degrees of impact:

1. One option on the table is a forced sale of Google’s Chrome browser, a move that would strike at one of the company’s most powerful channels for search dominance.

But it’s also the most complicated remedy legally and logistically, especially given the challenge of finding a buyer capable of maintaining the open-source Chromium project that underpins Chrome’s ecosystem.

2. A more targeted approach would be curbing Google’s massive default search deals, like the one with Apple that costs Google upward of $20 billion a year just to remain the go-to search engine on iPhones.

Scrapping or limiting those agreements could finally give competitors room to breathe.

3. Another idea gaining traction is data-sharing. Rivals particularly AI-focused firms like OpenAI or Perplexity argue they can’t compete without access to the search data Google tightly guards.

Forcing Google to open up parts of that dataset could level the playing field and spur new innovation without dismantling the company’s core products.

4. And then there’s the consumer-facing fix: choice screens. By requiring devices to present users with multiple search engine options instead of defaulting to Google, regulators could give people more say and competitors a fairer shot without resorting to a full breakup.

Impact on broader industry

Any decision in the Google antitrust case could trigger a long appeals process, possibly lasting 18 months or more, and even longer if it reaches the Supreme Court.

That means changes to Google’s business would happen slowly, but they are likely to take effect eventually.

Investors are watching closely, and the company’s stock has moved as the market considers the potential impact alongside Alphabet’s work in AI and cloud computing.

The case is being called the biggest tech antitrust fight since Microsoft decades ago.

Its outcome could change how regulators treat dominant online platforms and set a new standard for handling companies that control AI, data, and major digital ecosystems.