The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) plans to ask a judge to force Alphabet Inc. to sell its Chrome browser. This move could reshape the global online search market. The DOJ aims to break up Google’s monopoly, which includes Chrome’s 61% market share in the U.S. and the company’s 90% dominance in global search. Bloomberg Intelligence estimates Chrome could fetch $15-$20 billion, given its over 3 billion monthly active users.
Google Braces for Appeal
The DOJ’s recommendations follow an August ruling by Judge Amit Mehta. He determined that Google violated antitrust laws by using its dominant position to suppress competition in the online search market. Along with the Chrome sale, the DOJ will seek new measures related to artificial intelligence, data licensing, and Google’s Android operating system. The DOJ aims to increase competition, particularly by uncoupling Google’s Android OS from its search and app store services.
Google’s control of Chrome allows the company to collect data from signed-in users, which is key to its advertising business. Google uses this data to enhance its AI tools, such as its Gemini product, which aims to evolve into a more integrated web assistant. The DOJ’s efforts to break up Google echo past actions, like the unsuccessful push to dismantle Microsoft two decades ago.
Google has vowed to appeal the DOJ’s proposals, calling them an overreach that could harm consumers and stifle innovation. Despite this, the case continues under both the Trump and Biden administrations, with final decisions potentially altering the future of Google’s operations and the broader tech landscape.
In addition to pushing for the Chrome sale, the DOJ intends to impose new licensing requirements for Google’s search data and explore how the company’s AI products impact competition. While the government considered forcing the sale of Android, it has decided against that for now.
The DOJ is set to submit its proposal by Wednesday, with a final ruling expected by 2025. This potentially marks as one of the most significant interventions in tech regulation in recent years.