U.S. Department of Justice to Force Google to Sell Chrome Browser
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly considering recommending the sale of Google's (GOOGL) Chrome browser to limit its monopoly position in the search market. According to Bloomberg sources, this suggestion follows a court ruling in August that found Google had illegally established a monopoly in the search market.
In addition to the proposed sale of Chrome, the DOJ's plan also includes measures related to artificial intelligence and the Android operating system. Antitrust officials, along with participating states, plan to request federal judge Amit Mehta to enforce data licensing requirements. If accepted, these proposals could reshape the online search market and the emerging artificial intelligence industry.
Critical Steps for Google’s Advertising Business Model Thanks to owning Chrome, the world's most popular web browser, Google can track user activities to target more effective advertisements. Chrome also directs users to Google’s artificial intelligence product, Gemini. Antitrust enforcers argue that the sale of Chrome is necessary because they view the browser as the primary access point to Google’s search engine.
Lee-Anne Mulholland, Vice President in charge of Competition and Antitrust Relations at Google, accused the DOJ of pushing a radical agenda. Mulholland suggested that the government measures in this direction would harm consumers, developers, and America's technological leadership.
Sale of Chrome and Potential Effects Forcing Google to sell Chrome aims to limit the firm's ability to gain advantages in search-related products. Some of these measures also include requiring Google to license the results and data from its popular search engine. The DOJ is considering proposing that Google separate its Android operating system from other products, particularly its search engine and Google Play mobile app store.
Antitrust officials are also focusing on scenarios that would increase market competition by functionally splitting Google's products like Chrome and Android. Google opposes these proposals, arguing that such separations would alter its business models, increase device costs, and weaken competition against Apple’s iPhone and App Store. The DOJ is expected to present its final proposals to the court on Wednesday.