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DOJ antitrust officials reportedly pushing for Google to sell off Chrome browser

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Justice Department reportedly pushing Google to spin off Chrome

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Justice Department to ask judge to force Google to sell Chrome browser: reports

Donald Trump

J.D. Vance

Gil Luria

Robin Nunn

Adam Kovacevich

Russ Mould

Brian Benway

Xiaofeng Wang

Rebecca Haw Allensworth

Bill Kovacic

Chris Versace

Dan Morgan

Daniel Ives

Lee-Anne Mulholland

Eric Posner

Danny Vena

"This court is not going to do that [breakup Google]."

"I think it's quite unlikely Google will be broken up."

"The doomsday scenario of a total [Google] break-up like AT&T in the 1980's does not seem likely."

The US' plan to break up Google is "a legal non-starter."

The proposed framework "goes well beyond the legal scope of the Court’s decision about Search distribution contracts."

"He [Trump] might want to punish them [the tech leaders] by forcing a [Google] breakup."

The DOJ "is intent in dismantling it [Google]."

Will Google Be Broken Up?

The US Justice Department (DOJ) in a court filing Wednesday argued that Google, which controls approximately 90% of the online search market, should be forced to sell its Chrome browser and share data with competitors.

Al Jazeera

The DOJ also asked a judge to end Google's payment agreements with devices makers, which make Chrome the default search engine on these devices.

A federal judge ruled in August 2023 that Google had established an illegal monopoly over internet searches, with the company processing more than 90% of online searches.

The DOJ's proposed remedies could include requirements related to artificial intelligence, Android operating system modifications, and restrictions on agreements that limit AI rivals' access to content.

The final ruling from U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta is expected by August 2025, with Google planning to appeal any adverse decision.

This potential Chrome divestiture comes after a recent ruling requiring Google to open its Android platform to rival third-party app stores in a separate antitrust case.

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The Department of Justice is now considering asking the judge to force Google to sell its Chrome browser, which currently controls approximately 61% of the browser market in the United States.

TechCrunch #915

Google made substantial annual payments, reaching $26.3 billion in 2021, to device manufacturers including Apple to maintain its search engine as the default option on smartphones and web browsers.

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Forcing the sale of Chrome represents a radical agenda that exceeds the scope of the legal issues in question. The proposed breakup would harm consumers, developers, and American technological leadership at a critical time. Chrome and Android are offered freely on an open-source basis, and splitting them from Google would effectively break these services.

DOJ May Force Google to Sell Chrome in Antitrust Push

Antitrust actions & laws

Legislation

Computers & internet

The forced sale of Chrome is necessary to break Google's monopolistic control over internet search access points and restore market competition. The company's practice of making massive payments to maintain default search status has effectively blocked competitors from gaining market share. This aggressive remedy is essential to prevent Google from dominating emerging technologies like AI.

Budrul Chukrut/Contributor/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

DOJ May Force Google to Sell Chrome in Antitrust Push

DOJ May Force Google to Sell Chrome in Antitrust Push

The Spin

The Controversies

Allensworth

Posner

Morgan

Kovacevich

Mulholland

Kovacic

Luria

Articles on this story

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DOJ May Force Google to Sell Chrome in Antitrust Push

DOJ May Force Google to Sell Chrome in Antitrust Push

The Spin

The Controversies

Allensworth

Posner

Morgan

Kovacevich

Mulholland

Kovacic

Luria

Articles on this story

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