Germany Considers Breaking Up Tech Giants to Lower Prices

Germany is exploring aggressive antitrust measures, perhaps forcing a breakup of dominant tech companies to drive down prices. The strategy centers on leveraging existing German antitrust law, which allows for the unbundling of companies holding dominant market positions and charging excessive prices.

according to an interview with Achim Hergovich, a member of the German government’s team evaluating competition policy, the law empowers authorities to dismantle companies if they exploit their market power through inflated pricing. Hergovich believes that even the threat of unbundling coudl prompt companies to lower prices by 12 to 13 percent.

“If companies have dominant market positions and charge excessive prices, these companies can be unbundled,” Hergovich stated. He has already presented this proposal to the governing coalition and awaits their response.

This move signals a potentially significant shift in Germany’s approach to regulating Big Tech. Instead of relying solely on fines or behavioral remedies, the government is considering structural changes to foster greater competition and benefit consumers. The focus isn’t just on preventing anti-competitive practices, but actively reshaping the market.

While specific companies haven’t been named, the discussion clearly targets those with substantial market share and pricing power. The German government’s action could set a precedent for other countries grappling with the influence of large technology corporations.

Keywords: antitrust, Germany, tech giants, competition, unbundling, market dominance, pricing, Hergovich, German antitrust law, Big Tech regulation

Published: 2026/02/15 12:17:35