Will Google be forced to sell the Chrome browser? In the application submitted by the US Department of Justice to the Federal Court on Wednesday, it is stated that “the proposed ruling requires Google to part with Chrome, which will permanently prevent Google from controlling a critical access point for Internet search, and will allow competing search engines access to the browser that serves as a gateway to the Internet for many users.”
Last August, the Federal Court ruled that Google is an illegal monopoly in the field of search, this in the shadow of the agreement signed with Apple to make its search engine the default in its products.
The infrastructure for inquiries stems from the fact that each of Google’s products gives it a significant advantage over other players in the market. The fact that it owns Chrome, the world’s most popular browser, allows it to see user activity, use that data to target users – and thus bring in more money. On top of that, through Chrome, Google can make sure that users will turn to its flagship products, including the Gemini artificial intelligence.
Google, on the other hand, claims that its search engine has been widely used due to its quality, and that there is strong competition from Amazon and other websites. However, according to StatCounter data, Chrome controls 66% of the browser market worldwide, while Apple’s competitor Safari holds only 18%.
In the application document, which included about 23 pages, it was stated that forcing the company to sell Chrome would help create more equal conditions for competitors in the search field.
The US Department of Justice demanded that Google refrain from entering into restrictive agreements with third parties such as Apple and Samsung and that the company not give preference to its search service in its other products.
Also, the Ministry of Justice emphasized that the remedial measures should prevent Google from neutralizing new competitive threats through acquisitions, minority investments or partnerships. At the request of the Ministry, the validity of the proposed measures will be for 10 years. The request document also states that Google should be required to provide a technical committee with a monthly report, which will include details of any changes in the auctions of text ads in search.
“The proposed measures are intended to put an end to Google’s illegal practices and open the market to competition and the entry of new players,” the request states.
“radical agenda”
The Justice Department’s demand is considered the agency’s most aggressive attempt to break up a technology company since the antitrust case against Microsoft, which ended in a settlement in 2001.
Antitrust officials backed away from a much more radical proposal, which was to force Google to sell its operating system to various products like Android. However, it should be said that according to reports around the world, this move is among the most aggressive moves by the Biden administration against the technology giants. On the other hand, the election of Donald Trump as the next US president could affect this appeal. A month before the election, Trump wondered if breaking up Google was a good idea.
In the third quarter of the year, advertising revenues from search amounted to $49.4 billion, accounting for three quarters of the total advertising sales of the parent company, Alphabet.
According to a Bloomberg report, Google plans to appeal once Judge Amit Mehta issues his final ruling, which could happen by August 2025.
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