Google is facing scrutiny over its plans to add a new internet protocol that could give them an unfair advantage over business competitors.
With Google's shift into the new standard of encryption, antitrust investigators with the House Judiciary Committee are taking a closer look at the company as criticisms over the new protocol arise.
Google Integrating New Encryption Protocol
According to a report from Wall Street Journal, the company is working on implementing DNS-over-TLS in Google Chrome to provide users with greater privacy and security.
Gizmodo noted that DNS or Domain Name System, which translates a domain name into an IP address, is usually unencrypted. It allows service providers to determine the website history of a user and profit off these records.
Google is currently integrating an additional layer of encryption known as TLS into DNS, at least in Chrome. It aims to improve security by encrypting traffic and preventing hackers from spoofing, but critics say that Google could be stifling internet competition in the process.
With the major company controlling 64 percent of the entire browser market in the world, it could draw all Chrome users to its DNS and away from service provided DNS. Most internet traffic occurs in Chrome or Android, which means Google is behind it. If it wants to, service providers could be locked out from accessing DNS data.
"Google would acquire greater control over user data across networks and devices around the world. This could inhibit competitors and possibly foreclose competition in advertising and other industries," a group of service providers wrote in a letter to the House Judiciary Committee.
WSJ reported that antitrust investigators have already reached out to Google to find out why the company is implementing DNS over TLS.
What Google Says About The Criticism
On its part, Google is adamant that it's not planning to be the default CNS provider of users.
"Google has no plans to centralize or change people's DNS providers to Google by default," a company spokesperson said, adding that the claims circulating that it is trying to become the centralized encrypted DNS provider are inaccurate.
It's only the latest hiccup in Google's troubled relationship with the government over its massive dominance over the market. Fifty attorneys general have already signed onto an antitrust investigation into the company, specifically its advertising and search businesses.
