Washington DC: Alphabet Inc.’s Google may be required to sell Chrome, the most popular browser globally. The US Department of Justice (DoJ) is reportedly seeking a court order that would compel Alphabet Inc. to divest the browser in an effort to break what it considers Google’s monopoly in the internet search and associated advertising markets.
Google has countered that selling Chrome would negatively impact both consumers and businesses. Last month, the DoJ filed documents indicating it was exploring “structural remedies” to prevent Google from leveraging certain products. On Wednesday, the antitrust regulators are expected to propose these measures to a judge, as reported by Bloomberg. As of October, Chrome commands nearly 90 percent of the global search engine market and about 61 percent in the US, according to StatCounter.
The Case Against Google’s Monopoly The DoJ initiated its case against Google during the first term of then-President Donald Trump. In a significant ruling in August, Judge Amit Mehta found that Google has established a monopoly in online search and is now considering potential remedies or penalties. Since that ruling, prosecutors have suggested various options, including ending Google’s exclusive agreements worth billions with companies like Apple to keep their search engine as the default option on devices, and potentially divesting portions of its business such as the Android operating system.
On Wednesday, it’s anticipated that the DoJ will proceed with some of these suggestions, including a requirement for Google to sell its Chrome browser. Alongside this, they are also expected to recommend data licensing obligations be placed on Google, as reported by Bloomberg. If the divestment goes ahead, Chrome is estimated to be valued between USD 15 billion to USD 20 billion, given its more than 3 billion monthly active users, according to Mandeep Singh, an analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence. Google’s Response Google has described the proposal as “radical,” arguing that it would adversely affect consumers and businesses in the US and undermine American competitiveness in artificial intelligence.
The company has previously denied claims of operating a monopoly within the online search sector. In response to the DoJ’s filing in October, Google stated that separating business components like Chrome or Android would lead to detrimental changes in their operational models, increase device costs, and weaken the competitive edge of Android and Google Play against Apple’s iPhone and App Store, as reported by the BBC. Comments Currently, Google is reportedly preparing to appeal once US District Judge Amit Mehta reaches a final decision by August 2025, with the company set to present its proposal in December.
