Antitrust Policies Under Trump Creates New Uncertainties for US Big Techs
US big techs are defending themselves against antitrust claims as they hope that the Trump administration will give them a reprieve, Yahoo Finance has reported. Big tech antitrust under Trump has taken a new twist after the US president asked the Department of Justice to rescind Biden’s quest to divest its Chrome business and break up.
Bigtech Antitrust Lawsuits
Google is one of the big techs that has requested the DOJ for reprieve. The company has based its request on security concerns. The search giant’s cybersecurity security for sensitive data like digital wallets and passwords are integrated throughout its tech and consumer products.
“We routinely meet with regulators, including with the DOJ to discuss this case. As we’ve publicly said, we’re concerned the current proposals would harm the American economy and national security,” Google’s spokesperson said.
The giant search company isn’t the only big tech that’s caught up in the government’s Silicon Valley antitrust scrutiny. Apple, Amazon and Meta antitrust cases also remain rife in the US. Some of the lawsuits involve market dominance claims that are very similar to Google’s. A case filed by the Federal Trade Commission against Meta is coming up for trial on April 14.
Running Wild
Expert views over tech policy shifts under Trump and whether enforcement will be lighter compared to the Biden administration vary. Trump’s DOJ lead Gail Slater is yet to be confirmed. This means that recommendations on the Google search can only be made by the acting assistant antitrust attorney general Omeed Assefi.
“Big Tech has run wild for years, stifling competition in our most innovative sector and, as we all know, using its market power to crack down on the rights of so many Americans, as well as those of Little Tech. I was proud to fight these abuses in my First Term, and our Department of Justice’s antitrust team will continue that work under Gail’s leadership,” Trump said last year as he announced Slater’s appointment.
The first time Google was sued over antitrust claims was during Trump’s first term.
DoJ vs Google
In August 2024, federal judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google is an illegal monopoly due to its dominance in online search. The judge holds the final word on what will happen to the $2 trillion Google empire.
The trial against the search giant remains active with hearings expected to take place in April and May of this year. The DOJ and Google were expected to submit their recommendations to the judge by March 7. This deadline gives the DOJ, which is now led by Trump appointed officials, a chance to shift the Google split recommendations made to the judge during the Biden era.
“The Biden Justice Department proposed what I would call remedy spaghetti against the wall. The problem is if the Justice Department pursues these pretty wide ranging remedies, the odds of losing increase,” Chamber of Progress CEO Adam Kovacevich said.
Kovacevich previously led the Google policy strategy and external affairs team in the US. He also holds that the tension for the current administration emanates from the fact that the US is involved in a trade war with China over the future of emerging technologies like AI. In the current situation, Google remains a critical weapon for the US.
“What are we going to do, hobble one of our main US runners in that race by breaking up that company? It seems ill timed to do that,” Kovacevich added.
Besides the search case, the new DOJ will also have to negotiate other antitrust cases involving Google. These include a Google ad technology case filed in a Virginia district court in 2024 where the tech giant is accused of blocking rival access to the online market.
