Alphabet Inc’s Google may have to sell Chrome, the world’s most used browser. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) reportedly wants the court to order Alphabet Inc. to sell the browser to end Google’s monopoly on the Internet search market and related advertising. Meanwhile, Google said that if it was forced to sell Chrome, the move would harm its consumers and businesses.
Last month, the Justice Department filed court papers saying it was considering implementing “structural measures” to prevent Google from using some of its products. Antitrust enforcers will propose the measure to a judge on Wednesday, according to a Bloomberg report.
According to StatCounter, Chrome has about 90 percent share of the global search engine market as of October. Furthermore, it controls approximately 61 percent of the US market.
Case against Google’s monopoly
The DoJ brought the case against Google during the first four years of US President-elect Donald Trump’s term. In a landmark ruling in August, Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google operates an online search monopoly and was considering whether to impose remedies or penalties.
Since then, prosecutors have suggested several possible ways to proceed in the case, including ending the billion-dollar exclusive agreements Google has made with Apple and other companies to remain the default search engine on their tablets and smartphones and divesting its business. Including disinvestment of some parts. As its Android operating system.
On Wednesday, the DoJ is likely to move forward with many of those proposals, including requiring Google to sell its Chrome browser. States involved in the case, as well as antitrust officials, plan to recommend that federal Judge Amit Mehta impose data licensing requirements on Google, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.
According to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Mandeep Singh, if the sale goes ahead, Chrome would be worth “at least USD 15 – USD 20 billion, given it has over 3 billion monthly active users.”
Google’s response
Google has called the proposal “radical” and said it would harm its consumers and businesses in the US and also shake US competitiveness in artificial intelligence.
Previously, the company has denied operating a monopoly in the online search market. Responding to the DOJ’s filing in October, Google said that “diving up” parts of its business like Chrome or Android would “break them up.”
“Breaking them up would change their business models, increase the cost of devices and weaken Android and Google Play in their strong competition with Apple’s iPhone and App Store,” the BBC quoted the company as saying.
Now, Google is reportedly planning to appeal after US District Judge Amit Mehta delivers his final ruling by August 2025. The company will have a chance to present its proposal in December.
