SIIA Statement on DOJ’s Remedy Framework in Google Search Case

The following statement can be attributed to Chris Mohr, President, Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA):

The "proposed remedy framework" submitted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday in its antitrust case against Google Search is breathtaking in its scope. We have already expressed our deep concern with the government's approach, which seeks to punish Google for its continued innovation.

Those concerns are deepening. It is one thing to punish a defendant for the past; quite another to prevent it from innovating in the future. While we'll have to wait until November 20 for the specifics, remedies DOJ is considering seeking include prohibiting Google to enter into contracts; requiring Google to fund an educational campaign to teach consumers about other search engines; requiring Google to make available its proprietary data and models, as well as search results, despite well documented privacy concerns; and restricting Google's ability to develop and improve AI models.

This is a radical agenda, and not in a good way. It draws from a pre-internet playbook and reflects virtually no consideration of consumers important privacy and security concerns; the well-documented preferences of consumers and other businesses for Google's search tools; the massive costs that will be born by consumers and other businesses; or the chilling effect these remedies will have on future innovation.

These proposals, if approved, will make the internet less safe for Americans immediately. As or more concerning, the remedies will kneecap AI development and undermine broader U.S. national interests, potentially compelling foreign competitor access to Google's intellectual property and compromising the privacy and security of U.S. citizens. Leaving aside our concerns about Judge Mehta's ruling on the merits, DOJs proposed remedies grossly overreach. While this may delight a handful of Google's competitors, it will have significant, enduring consequences that will make everyone else worse off.