Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and a bipartisan coalition of 38 attorneys general in announcing a robust package of remedies to end Google’s unlawful monopoly over internet search engines and restore competition to benefit consumers. In 2020, Raoul and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general filed a lawsuit against Google alleging that Google illegally maintains its monopoly power over general search engines through anticompetitive contracts and conduct. The multistate lawsuit was a companion to an earlier federal antitrust lawsuit the DOJ filed in October 2020. In a landmark decision in August 2024, a D.C. federal district court judge ruled that Google violated federal antitrust laws by illegally maintaining a monopoly in online search and search text ads. At issue now are the remedies the court will impose to end Google’s improper conduct that has stifled competition and harmed consumers, and the steps necessary to restore competition for the benefit of consumers. The proposed final judgement, filed on Wednesday by Raoul and the coalition, seeks to end Google’s illegal monopoly and restore competition in several ways. The proposal would end Google’s search distribution contracts and revenue sharing agreements by prohibiting Google from paying to be the initial default search engine on any phone, device or browser. Google is also required to share its data and information – unlawfully obtained through its monopoly power – with rivals to improve the competitive choices available to consumers. A hearing on the proposed remedies is currently scheduled to begin on April 22, 2025, and conclude by May 2.