US Justice Department Aims to Force Google to Sell Chrome

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly preparing to request a court order that would compel Google to sell its Chrome browser, Bloomberg reports, citing insider sources.

Antitrust officials argue that Chrome serves as a "key gateway" through which many users access Google’s search engine, reinforcing the company’s market dominance.

Chrome currently controls approximately 61% of the US browser market, according to web traffic analytics firm StatCounter:

"Through Chrome, the company can track the activity of registered users and leverage that data for more effective ad targeting, which constitutes its primary revenue stream," officials claim.

Additionally, Google reportedly uses Chrome to direct users to its AI assistant Gemini, which, if left unchecked, could evolve from a chatbot into a tool that extensively tracks online user activity, raising concerns about potential market monopolization.

The DOJ has also turned its attention to Android. Officials are pushing for Google to separate the mobile operating system from other services, such as its search engine and Google Play. However, the DOJ stopped short of calling for the sale of Android.

• The DOJ's initiative could "reshape the online search market and the rapidly evolving AI industry," Bloombergnotes.
• It also seeks to require Google to disclose more data to advertisers and grant them greater control over how ads are displayed

The DOJ’s upcoming request builds on an August ruling by US District Judge Amit Mehta, who found Google guilty of monopolistic practices in the search market. The ruling revealed that Google had paid $26 billion in exclusive deals to make its search engine the default option on smartphones and browsers.

By monopolizing search distribution, Google was able to consistently raise online ad prices without facing competition. This marked a victory for regulators in one of the largest antitrust cases against a tech giant.

Google has reacted negatively to the DOJ’s position on Chrome and its Android services:

• Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, criticized the DOJ’s stance, stating that it promotes a "radical agenda" that "extends far beyond legal norms."
• The company argued that such measures would ultimately harm users, developers, and even "the United States’ leadership in technology."