Google has hit back at the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) proposal, calling it a "radical interventionist agenda."
One of the most significant concerns raised by Google is the potential compromise of consumer privacy.
Another issue highlighted by Google is that the proposal could hurt the quality of the company’s services.
Google has hit back at the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) proposal, calling it a “radical interventionist agenda.” The DOJ’s proposal is part of an ongoing lawsuit focused on how Google distributes its Search services, particularly its agreements with major partners like Apple, Mozilla, smartphone manufacturers, and wireless carriers.
According to Google, the DOJ’s sweeping suggestions go far beyond the scope of the case and could negatively impact a range of Google products that millions of people rely on daily. The company warns that the proposal could harm both consumers and the wider tech industry in several ways.
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One of the most significant concerns raised by Google is the potential compromise of consumer privacy. The DOJ’s proposal could force Google to disclose sensitive data, including Americans’ personal search queries, to both domestic and foreign companies. Google believes this would endanger the security and privacy of millions of users.
Another issue highlighted by Google is that the proposal could hurt the quality of the company’s services. For example, the sale of its Chrome browser and possibly Android operating system could undermine the reliability and innovation of products that many people find useful. Google also argues that the proposal could limit investment in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, a field where Google has been a major leader.
Google also expressed concern about how this “extreme proposal” could hurt smaller businesses. The company points out that services like Mozilla’s Firefox depend on the revenue they earn from their partnership with Google Search. Changes to these agreements could disrupt their business model.
Also read: Google’s experiment of removing news articles from search in EU sparks legal action
One particularly troubling part of the proposal is that it would force Google to install multiple choice screens on Pixel phones. These screens would need to be approved by a government-appointed “Technical Committee” that would have significant control over how Google operates its services.
Google has made it clear that it believes the DOJ’s proposal represents unnecessary government overreach. The company has promised to present its own counter-proposals next month and plans to make its broader case next year.
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Ayushi Jain
Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds. View Full Profile
