Google recognizes DOJ review as part of the competition review

This does not mean that the DOJ does not expect to find injustice. The review is largely intended to examine the dominance of tech companies in light of evolving market conditions. However, it comes just days after a reported plan for a multi-state antitrust investigation, and it may not be so lucky on that front.

At the same time, there is little doubt that Google is anxious about potential regulatory action. It opened its response to the DOJ inquiry by claiming that Google's services "create more choices," support "thousands of jobs and businesses and donate money in research projects that" stimulate innovation. "Google knows that officials can demand drastic changes (such as undoing acquisitions and dividing the company), and it wants to discourage those attempts by portraying itself as an essential part of American society.