US Justice Deptt Google lawsuit expected in weeks

WASHINGTON: The Justice Department, which has been conducting an antitrust investigation of Alphabet Inc's Google, plans to bring a lawsuit against Google as soon as this month, according to two sources familiar with the probe, who said the focus remains on search and advertising. Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen told Reuters last month that the Justice Department was moving "full tilt" on a probe of Google and other Big Tech platforms.

A complaint, which had been expected around Labor Day, is now expected this month but potentially as late as mid-October, and is likely to focus on two sets of allegations, the sources said. A person briefed on the matter confirmed that some career Justice Department attorneys have pushed to delay filing of a case pending further work, while Attorney General William Barr has pressed to move faster.

Barr told the Wall Street Journal last month that he was "hoping to make a decision by the end of the summer" on the Google probe. The department is focusing on allegations that Google violates antitrust law by favoring its own businesses, for example YouTube, in search results rather than presenting neutral search results, the sources said.

Parallel to the Justice Department, a large group of state attorneys general are probing Google and holding regular meetings with federal law enforcers. At least 12 of these will likely sign on to the Justice Department lawsuit, and perhaps many more, one of the sources said.