The U.S. Justice Department Calls on Google to Sell Chrome Again

The U.S. Department of Justice has reaffirmed that Google will be required to split its business and sell the Chrome browser.

As reported by Engadget, this requirement is outlined in a legal document supporting a federal court ruling that found Google guilty of abusing its monopoly in the search engine market.

Regulators argue that selling Chrome would weaken Google’s control over search access and create a more competitive environment. The government has also upheld a ban on setting Google Search as the default engine on Apple devices and other manufacturers. Mozilla Firefox, which previously received payments for Google integration, is also affected by the ruling.

At the same time, authorities have softened their stance on Google’s AI investments. Initially, regulators proposed forcing the company to divest its stakes in AI startups. However, after Anthropic requested financial support, the restrictions were revised. Now, Google must notify regulators of its AI investments but is not required to exit the sector.

In response, Google has proposed alternative measures, arguing that it should still be allowed to pay partners for search placement—provided competitors also have access. For example, Apple could preinstall different search engines across various devices, and browsers could switch search providers once every 12 months. A final decision on Google’s asset split is expected soon.