Google is urging the Trump administration's Justice Department to abandon plans to forcefully break up the company, citing national security concerns. Google officials have met with government officials to try to persuade them to take a softer line as the United States tries to break up the company's online search monopoly, Bloomberg reported.
Back in November 2024, the Joe Biden administration demanded that Google sell its Chrome web browser and stop paying billions in exclusive deals to Apple and other companies. Google has previously opposed these demands, but now, under a new president, the company is continuing to defend its position. A federal court is expected to rule on Google's changes after hearings scheduled for next month. Final proposals are due by March 7.
Google spokesman Peter Schottenfels said the company regularly meets with regulators, including the Justice Department, to discuss the matter, and is concerned that the proposed measures could negatively impact the U.S. economy and national security.
While this isn't the first time Google has used this argument in response to antitrust claims, the company is raising the issue again as the case enters its final stages. The court could force Google to make major changes to its business model.
Google's legal counsel Kent Walker has previously called the Justice Department's demands a "radical intrusion" that could harm the U.S.'s global technology leadership. In January, he highlighted Google's collaboration with the government on artificial intelligence to protect against cyber threats.