RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) are seeking to limit Google's business practices, end what officials say is an unlawful monopoly over internet search engines and restore competition to benefit consumers. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares joined the DOJ and other state attorneys generals in proposing a robust package of remedies to end Google's monopoly over internet search engines. According to the Office of the Attorney General, in Dec. 2020, Virginia joined a bipartisan coalition of 38 attorneys generals in filing a lawsuit, alleging that Google illegally maintains its monopoly power over general search engines through anticompetitive contracts and conduct. The multistate lawsuit was then accompanied by a federal antitrust lawsuit that DOJ filed in Oct. 2020. In Aug. 2024, a D.C. federal district court judge ruled that Google violated federal antitrust laws by illegally maintaining a monopoly in online search and search text ads. According to the office, the proposed final judgment filed with the court seeks to get rid of Google's illegal monopoly and restore competition in several ways. One of the proposed remedies would end Google's search distribution contracts and revenue-sharing agreements by prohibiting Google from paying to be the initial default search engine on any phone, device or browser. The office said the proposed judgment would also require Google to share its data and information -- which it says is unlawfully obtained through Google's monopoly power -- with rivals to improve the competitive choices available to consumers. This data will reportedly be shared in a manner that safeguards personal privacy and security. Additionally, the proposed judgment seeks the divestiture, or selling off subsidiary business interests or investments, from Google's browser, Chrome. According to the office, there will also be provisions for additional divestitures -- including the Android operating system -- if Google fails to comply with specific remedies or if the remedies prove to be ineffective. The proposed final judgment would also prohibit Google from foreclosing competition or self-preferencing through its ownership or control of other products, including Android. According to the office, Google cannot make Google Search or Google AI mandatory on Android devices, interfere with rival distribution, degrade rival quality or leverage distributors to preference Google. The office said Google must also give publishers the ability to opt out of having their data collected by Google for training Google's AI models or use in Generative AI answers. The states also propose a public education campaign, to be funded by Google, to inform consumers about what Google did, why it is illegal and what choices they actually have in search engines. According to officials, the final order would establish a five-member technical committee to implement, monitor and enforce the remedies for 10 years. “The remedies proposed are reasonable, measured steps to restore competition and protect consumers,” Miyares said. “Virginia is proud to help produce a balanced resolution that benefits consumers and competitors alike.” A hearing on the proposed remedies is scheduled to begin on April 22, 2025 and end by May 2, 2025.