Google has publicly responded to the US Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding its request for the company to divest from future development projects related to Chrome and Android. The tech giant argues that the DOJ’s approach represents a “radically interventionist agenda,” which they believe could have detrimental effects on American consumers and the country’s position in global technology.
Google highlights several potential consequences of the proposed divestment. They assert that such a move could jeopardize the security and privacy of millions of users, posing risks of exposing American personal search information to various domestic and international entities. Additionally, Google indicates that its investment in artificial intelligence (AI), an area in which it has been a leader, could be significantly reduced.
The DOJ’s proposal may also impact other innovation-driven projects, such as Mozilla Firefox, which relies on a search agreement with Google. Limiting access to Google’s search services could hinder the viability of such partnerships.
Moreover, the US government plans to create a “Technical Committee” tasked with overseeing aspects of Google’s search functions. This committee would have authority over user interactions with the search engine, leading to potential changes in the user experience on Google Pixel phones, where users would face additional selection screens before accessing the search capabilities, with the design of these screens requiring approval from the Technical Committee.
Google maintains that it provides the “highest quality search engine in the industry,” trusted by millions of users daily. However, the company warns that the DOJ’s proposal could extend government control over its operations to an unprecedented level. They argue this could adversely affect American consumers, developers, and small businesses, ultimately undermining the economic and technological leadership of the United States at a critical time.