The U.S. Justice Department has decided to ask a federal judge to require Alphabet Inc.’s Google to sell off its Chrome browser. This comes as part of a sweeping antitrust crackdown aimed at reshaping the technology giant’s dominance in search, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Android operating system.
The Justice Department’s actions stem from an August ruling by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, which found that Google had illegally monopolized the online search market. Bloomberg reports that antitrust officials and state attorneys general plan to recommend additional measures this week, including data licensing requirements and significant changes to Google’s AI and Android operations. If implemented, these remedies could upend Google’s business model and reshape the broader tech landscape.
The Justice Department plans to ask a court to order Google to divest its Chrome web browser, Bloomberg reports, citing anonymous sources. The department will also petition federal judge Amit Mehta, who in August declared Google’s search engine a monopoly, to mandate actions concerning artificial intelligence and the Android mobile operating system. In his ruling, which Google plans to appeal, Mehta said Google violated antitrust laws related to online search and search text ads. Chrome, the world’s most-used internet browser, commands about 61% of U.S. market share, per StatCounter. Experts believe it could fetch up to $20 billion in a sale.
Chrome, A Key Asset in Google’s Empire
The Chrome browser, which dominates approximately 61% of the U.S. market according to StatCounter, is integral to Google’s business. It provides critical access to its search engine, allows the company to collect user data for targeted advertising, and serves as a gateway to its flagship AI product, Gemini.
Forcing Google to divest Chrome would strike at the heart of its ad-driven revenue model, which generated $224 billion in 2022 alone. According to antitrust officials, this move is designed to create a more competitive online ecosystem by breaking Google’s grip on user data and access points.
However, the Justice Department is reportedly leaving room for flexibility. Officials may decide against a Chrome sale if other remedies—such as licensing requirements or uncoupling Android from Google’s other products—prove sufficient to foster competition.
Google’s AI Integration Too
Google’s integration of AI into its search engine has also drawn scrutiny. The company’s AI-based “overviews,” which summarize search results using machine learning, have been criticized by website publishers. Many argue that these summaries divert traffic from their sites, reducing ad revenue and diminishing user engagement.
Websites are caught in a bind: opting out of providing data for AI models risks lower rankings in Google’s search results, potentially alienating their audience. The Justice Department aims to address this imbalance by proposing stricter data licensing rules and syndication requirements, which could give rival search engines and startups access to Google’s search data and infrastructure.
Android Unbundling and Advertising Transparency
The Justice Department also plans to recommend separating Google’s Android operating system from its other products, including its search engine and Google Play Store. Regulators hope to curb Google’s ability to leverage its dominance in one area to stifle competition in others by untethering these services.
Another proposed remedy involves giving advertisers more control over their campaigns. This includes requiring Google to share more data and allowing advertisers to specify where their ads appear, mitigating concerns about monopolistic practices in digital advertising.
A Historic Case with Global Implications
The case against Google is the most aggressive U.S. antitrust action against a tech company since the government’s failed attempt to break up Microsoft in the 1990s. While this case began during the Trump administration, it has gained momentum under President Joe Biden, reflecting bipartisan support for tackling Big Tech’s dominance.
Judge Mehta has scheduled a two-week hearing in April 2025 to determine the specific remedies Google must implement, with a final ruling expected by August 2025.
Challenges to Enforcement
While the proposed measures aim to foster competition, implementing them may face significant hurdles. Selling off Chrome, for instance, would require finding a suitable buyer. Analysts are skeptical, as potential acquirers like Amazon and OpenAI are themselves under regulatory scrutiny.
Mandeep Singh, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst, expressed doubts about the feasibility of a Chrome divestiture. However, he noted that a buyer like OpenAI could benefit by gaining both a robust distribution channel and an advertising business to complement its AI offerings.
Google’s Defense
Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs, has sharply criticized the Justice Department’s proposals, calling them “radical” and warning of potential harm to consumers, developers, and American technological leadership.
“Imposing these measures would stifle innovation at a critical time for the tech industry,” she argued, signaling Google’s intention to appeal Judge Mehta’s August ruling.
If Judge Mehta sides with the Justice Department, the proposed remedies could fundamentally alter the tech industry as we know it. From fostering competition in search and AI to creating transparency in digital advertising, these measures could dismantle Google’s monopolistic practices and pave the way for a more equitable online ecosystem.