Donald Trump, former U.S. president and current 2024 presidential candidate, hinted that Google might not face the breakup some are calling for. In an interview, Trump spoke about changes that could make the search giant “more fair” without tearing it apart. The idea of breaking up Google has come up, but Trump leaned toward caution.
During the discussion with Bloomberg, Trump touched on the topic of China. He suggested that Google’s power might be necessary in the global tech race, particularly against Chinese competition. Trump’s exact words pointed out that “China is afraid of Google,” implying that U.S. companies play a key role in international competition.
Antitrust and Media Bias
The U.S. Department of Justice has been pursuing Google for allegedly holding a monopoly in the search engine market. Mirroring Microsoft’s historic antitrust battle with the US government in 2001, Google is has been locked in a similar war. US courts in August found Google guilty of monopolistic practices. Among the potential outcomes from the ruling could be to break up the company.
The decision for the wider DoJ investigation was made last September and could have a huge impact on Google and its parent Alphabet. Last year, the DoJ accused the company of destroying evidence by deleting chats between employees. In November 2022, Google agreed to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to 40 states in the biggest anti-trust settlement in U.S. law.
One option under consideration is the separation of Google’s Android operating system and the Chrome browser. Android, which powers around 2.5 billion devices worldwide, is frequently mentioned in these conversations. The widely-used Chrome – the dominant web browser on the market – is also being examined.
Trump Takes a More Cynical Approach
However, Trump’s stance has shown a shift, as he seems reluctant to break up a company that could prove valuable in keeping the U.S. ahead of China. Though he acknowledged the concerns over Google’s influence, Trump hinted that alternative solutions might be more appropriate than dismantling the firm.
While Trump discussed global competition, he also voiced grievances regarding how Google has portrayed him in the media. He expressed dissatisfaction with how search results tend to bring up mostly negative news stories about him. “I’ve got some good coverage too, but you never see that when you search,” Trump stated.
Broader Implications for Google and U.S. Tech
This isn’t the first time Trump has suggested action against the company. His administration filed the antitrust case against Google in 2020, accusing it of paying companies like Apple and Samsung to secure its position as the default search engine on phones and web browsers. Now, with a potential run for office in the future, Trump’s opinions on big tech could signal changes ahead.
However, the former president made it clear he doesn’t want to harm U.S. companies like Google, especially when thinking about the tech race with China. Trump’s statements suggested a balance between keeping Google’s power in check and maintaining its position as a U.S. leader in technology.
Trump also claimed to have spoken to Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, about the company’s algorithms and search results. He described the interaction, saying Pichai mentioned that Trump was one of the most searched figures on the platform. “But of course, most of those stories are negative,” Trump noted, expressing frustration with what he sees as unfair treatment.
Pichai and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella both gave testimonies during the landmark trial. In his testimonies to the court, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella suggested Google stifles Bing. Nadella revealed that Microsoft has poured a staggering $100 billion into Bing, its proprietary search engine. Nadella candidly admitted Microsoft’s unsuccessful attempts to dethrone Google from this position, even after offering Apple more favorable terms.
Google reportedly pays Apple up to $20 billion per year to keep its Search engine on iPhone and other devices. However, Pichai claims this drives competition not blocks it. He reasoned that the cost-effectiveness of contending with a potential Apple-powered rival search engine or another competitor weighed in favor of retaining Google’s default status on iPhones.
Last Updated on November 7, 2024 2:32 pm CET
