Trump Expected To Change Antitrust Policy, Stop Google Separation

Donald Trump, a candidate for US President who currently leads the vote acquisition for the US election (photo: @realdonaldtrump)

JAKARTA - Donald Trump is expected to change some of the antitrust policies carried out during President Joe Biden's administration, including attempts to break up Google (Alphabet) because of dominance in online searches.

Trump is predicted to continue several cases against major tech companies that began during his first term of office, but his doubts over Google's separation highlight the control he will have in managing these cases.

"If you do that, will you destroy the company? What can be done without breaking it is to ensure more justice," Trump said at an event in Chicago in October.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently pursuing two antitrust cases against Google over a search and another related to advertising technology, as well as one case against Apple. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is also suing Meta Platforms and Amazon.com.

The DOJ has outlined a number of potential solutions in search cases, including making Google remove parts of businesses such as the Chrome browser and ending an agreement that makes it Apple's default search engine on devices like Apple's iPhone.

However, a trial related to the solution will only be held in April 2025, with the final verdict expected in August. This gives Trump and DOJ time to change course if desired, said William Kovacic, a professor of law at George University Washington.

Trump is also expected to recall several policies disrupting the merger deal under the Biden administration, such as the reluctance to finalize the merger deal. The FTC and DOJ will most likely cancel merger review guidelines designed under Biden.

The initiative of FTC Chairman Lina Khan, who targets social harm due to the company's consolidation, has attracted praise from some circles but has also come under criticism from the business and legal community for being too aggressive. However, Khan's actions to dismantle Khan's work will depend on Trump's successor to give the majority in the bipartisan commission.