DOJ Says Google Must sell Chrome to Curb Monopoly

According to a petition with the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia on Wednesday, the US Department of Justice argued that Google should sell its Chrome browser to break up its illegal search monopoly

If the Department of Justice’s proposed remedy is approved, Google would be prohibited from reentering the search market for five years.

Ultimately, the ultimate punishment for Google will be determined by District Court Judge Amit Mehta, a decision that has the potential to significantly alter the structure of the internet and one of the world’s largest businesses. At some point in 2025, it is anticipated that the trial will commence that phase.

In August, Judge Mehta determined that Google was an unlawful monopoly due to its misuse of its influence in the search industry. The judge also expressed concern regarding Google’s management of numerous internet gateways and its payments to third parties in order to preserve its status as the default search engine.

The Department of Justice’s most recent filing indicated that Google’s ownership of Android and Chrome, which are critical distribution channels for its search business, presents a “substantial challenge” in terms of implementing remedies to enhance the competitiveness of the search market.

Additionally, the Justice Department suggested that Google spin off its Android mobile operating system in order to resolve the search giant’s monopoly.

The filing acknowledged that Google and other partners may be opposed to the spin-off and recommended stringent measures, such as refraining from utilizing Android to disadvantage its search competitors.

The Department of Justice suggested that Google may be compelled to sell Android if it fails to implement restrictions.

Prosecutors also contended that the company should be prohibited from engaging into exclusionary third-party contracts with browser or phone companies, such as Google’s contract with Apple, which stipulates that it will serve as the default search engine on all Apple products.

The Department of Justice also contended that Google should license its search data and ad click data to competitors.

Furthermore, the Department of Justice established conditions that would prevent Google from reentering the browser market five years after the company spun off Chrome.

Additionally, it suggested that Google should refrain from acquiring or owning any rival ad text search, query-based AI product, or advertising technology following the sale of Chrome.

Additionally, the document delineated the options available to publishers to decline Google’s use of their data to train AI models.

If the court approves these remedies, Google will experience a significant impediment in its efforts to compete with OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic in the field of AI technology.

Google’s response

Google responded by stating that the Department of Justice’s most recent filing was “a radical interventionist agenda” that would have a detrimental impact on the United States and the country’s technological capabilities.

“The Department of Justice’s proposal is significantly more expansive than the Court’s ruling.”

In a blog post, Kent Walker, Google’s chief legal officer and president of global affairs, stated that it would cause significant disruptions to a variety of Google products, including Search, that are beloved and beneficial to everyday users.

Walker presented supplementary arguments that the proposal would jeopardize the security and privacy of users, erode the quality of Chrome and Android, and negatively impact services such as Mozilla Firefox, which rely on Google Search.

He also stated that the proposition would impede the accessibility of Google Search for individuals if it were to be implemented. Additionally, it would undermine the organization’s prospects in the AI competition.

He stated that the Department of Justice’s strategy would lead to unprecedented government overreach, which would negatively impact American consumers, developers, and small businesses. Additionally, it would imperil America’s global economic and technological leadership at a critical juncture.

Next month, the organization intends to submit its response to this filing.

According to web traffic service StatCounter, the Wednesday filing confirms previous reports that prosecutors were contemplating compelling Google to spin off Chrome, which currently holds approximately 61% of the U.S. browser market.