Google is facing its greatest antitrust threat in decades, with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) seeking remedies that could break up the tech giant's empire. The DOJ is arguing that Google's dominance in online search and ad tech markets has stifled competition, and is seeking measures to restore competition and level the playing field. The stakes are high, with the outcome of the trial potentially reshaping the entire tech industry.

The DOJ's case against Google is built on two recent court rulings, in which the company was deemed an unlawful monopolist in both the online search and ad tech markets. The DOJ is now seeking remedies to address these monopolies, including forcing Google to sell its Chrome web browser, sharing search data with competitors, and ending exclusionary deals with browser and phone makers. The government is also seeking to ensure that any remedies imposed are future-proof, to prevent Google from regaining its monopoly power in the future.

The trial, which begins on Monday, will hear from Google executives involved in its Search, Android, and Chrome businesses, as well as executives from online search competitors like DuckDuckGo, Microsoft's Bing, and Yahoo. The DOJ will argue that Google's dominance has made it difficult for competitors to break through, and that its control of Chrome and search data gives it an unfair advantage. Google, on the other hand, will argue that its products are superior and that the proposed remedies could break tools that consumers enjoy.

The ad tech remedies trial, which is expected to take place in the coming months, will focus on Google's dominance of the ad market. The DOJ has argued that Google's illegally tied services, including its publisher ad server DFP and ad exchange AdX, have given it an unfair advantage over competitors. The government may seek to make Google split off one or both of these services, which could revitalize the open web and give publishers more opportunities to make money outside of big social networks.

The outcome of the trial is far from certain, with Google vowing to appeal any adverse rulings. The company could potentially push any tangible changes out for years, taking the case all the way to the Supreme Court. However, experts say that even if Google is not broken up, the trial could still have a significant impact on the tech industry, opening up opportunities for new and innovative companies to emerge.

The parallels with Microsoft's landmark antitrust case 25 years ago are striking. In that case, the DOJ ultimately settled for milder remedies, but the outcome still had a significant impact on the industry, paving the way for companies like Google to emerge. This time around, the stakes are even higher, with the entire tech industry watching to see how the trial will play out.

As the trial begins, one thing is clear: Google's empire is under siege, and the company is facing its greatest existential threat in years. The outcome of the trial will have far-reaching implications for the tech industry, and could fundamentally reshape the way we interact with technology.