Google is facing significant disruption to its search business due to an ongoing antitrust case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The case, which challenges Google’s dominance in online search, could lead to drastic operational changes. According to courtroom testimony by Liz Reid, head of Google Search, the company may be forced to reassign 1,000 to 2,000 employees — nearly 20% of its search division — if the DOJ’s proposed remedies are enforced.
The antitrust remedies aim to dismantle practices the DOJ deems anti-competitive. One of the primary proposals includes compelling Google to share critical search data, such as user click behavior, which has long been kept confidential. Additionally, the DOJ wants to end “compelled syndication” deals — agreements in which Google pays companies, like Apple, to set its search engine as the default on their devices. These deals, reportedly worth billions annually, are seen as barriers that prevent competitors from gaining fair access to users.
Despite Apple’s senior executive Eddy Cue defending Google as the superior search engine, the DOJ argues these partnerships stifle competition. Critics say that Google’s strategic deals have helped it maintain an unfair edge over rivals, reinforcing its monopoly.
If the court sides with the DOJ, Google will face not only a costly operational overhaul but also a potential loss of proprietary data and business leverage. The case marks a pivotal moment in tech regulation, possibly reshaping the future of internet search and competition in the digital economy
