35% of Google Employees Admit Company ‘Is a Monopoly’

The Justice Department’s reported consideration of a plan to break up Google might be a popular move in Silicon Valley.

About half (47%) of tech professionals believe the government should force Google to sell off business units like Android, Chrome or Google Ads, according to a new survey of 2,316 verified professionals by the professional social network Blind. About a quarter (23%) of the 322 verified Google professionals included in Blind’s survey backed divestitures.

“It would be great if android and chrome went out of business,” said a verified Google professional on Blind. “Then there would be room for new competitors with new products designed to benefit users, instead of free 800-pound gorilla apps that only benefit the ad network monopoly.”

Indeed, sources familiar with the federal agency’s deliberations believe splitting the business units responsible for the Android mobile operating system, Chrome web browser and Google Ads from Google may help competition and boost innovation, per media reports this week. The plan comes after a court ruled that Google had unlawfully monopolized online search, a market in which it has more than 90% of the global market share, according to some industry estimates.

Others in the tech industry are not so sure, pointing to the economics of each business unit and the consumer benefits of Google’s widely used free software.

“The fact that they are even CONSIDERING forcing Google to divest Chrome and Android shows they fundamentally don’t understand the tech industry,” a Google professional verified by Blind said, referring to the Justice Department. “Do they not understand that [Chrome] and Android are huge money pits that only exist because of Google ad revenue? That they would not survive as independent companies? That this would deprive the world of incredible free software?”

But the potential inviability of the business units might be the point, a verified Google professional on Blind argued, saying, “‘Free products’ are handcuffs that tie you to the monopoly network. Users are better without them.”

More than one in three (35%) verified Google professionals surveyed by Blind admitted the company is a monopoly. In comparison, two out of three tech professionals answered “yes” to the same question.

Another verified Google professional on Blind agreed, saying, “I’m pretty persuaded by the idea that a breakup of google will be a massive stimulus to the tech space.”

Criticism of Google’s business practices from within the company is not new. Thirteen percent of verified Google professionals believed the company acted to “illegally protect its monopoly,” according to a Blind survey in 2020 after the Justice Department first filed suit against the search giant.

The Justice Department may also be concerned about Google’s practice of signing exclusive contracts with other companies. The internet giant reportedly pays Apple $20 billion to ensure its search engine is the default on the iPad and iPhone-maker’s devices and Safari web browser.

Blind’s survey found that two out of five verified Google professionals thought the government should ban exclusive contracts, including its agreement with Apple. In comparison, 60% of all respondents wanted an end to the corporate tie-ins.

“Honestly, this might actually make Google a better company in the end. It’ll force us to actually compete this time. If we’re as good as we say we are, then we better prove it, not rest on our laurels,” a verified Google professional opined on Blind.

Methodology

Blind conducted an online survey of 2,316 verified professionals in the U.S., including 322 verified Google professionals, on its platform from Aug. 13 to 14, 2024, to understand support for the Justice Department’s reported plan to break up Google.

Survey respondents answered “yes” or “no” to the following questions:

• Do you believe Google is a monopoly?
• Should Google be forced to sell off business units like AdWords [Google Ads], Android or Chrome?
• Should the government ban exclusive contracts, such as the agreement between Apple and Google to be the default search engine on Safari?