Janice R. Andrews
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is preparing to request a federal judge to compel Google to sell its Chrome browser, as reported by Bloomberg. This move follows an August ruling by federal judge Amit Mehta, who declared Google a “monopolist” in the search engine market.
Google introduced Chrome in 2008, and the browser has since become a cornerstone of its dominance in online search. However, the DOJ’s antitrust officials now view Chrome as a critical piece in addressing concerns about the company’s market power.
In his ruling, Judge Mehta stated that Google used its monopoly to inflate prices for general search text ads. While he acknowledged Google’s control in search advertising, he noted that the company lacks similar dominance in the broader advertising sector.
The DOJ is also exploring other measures, such as requiring Google to modify its data licensing policies. Proposed changes may involve Google syndicating search results independently and selling its click and query data, which could benefit competing search engines and AI startups.
Although antitrust officials previously considered pushing for Google to divest Android, they have decided against it for now. Their focus remains on addressing issues related to Chrome and the company’s handling of user data.
Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs, criticized the DOJ’s plans, warning that such actions could harm consumers, developers, and U.S. technological leadership.
This case traces back to a 2020 lawsuit filed by the DOJ and several states, including Florida and Texas. The lawsuit alleges Google spent billions annually securing default status for its search engine across devices and browsers, often excluding competitors.
During testimony, Google’s chief technologist Prabhakar Raghavan revealed the company spent $26.3 billion in 2021 to maintain its default position, with much of the amount reportedly paid to Apple.
A hearing scheduled for April 2025 will address the proposed changes, with a final ruling expected by August. If the DOJ succeeds, it could lead to significant changes in Google’s operations and reshape competition in the tech industry.
