U.S. Justice Department Demands Google Sell Chrome

The U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed its desire for Google to divest its web browser, Chrome, as part of efforts to curb the company's technological monopoly.

U.S. Justice Department Proposes Google Breakup

The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has issued a 23-page document advocating for the breakup of Google, which includes selling off the Chrome web browser and imposing restrictions on Android, confirming earlier reports.

DoJ lawyers argue that selling Chrome would “effectively end Google’s control over this critical access point to the internet and allow competitive search engines to access the browser that serves as a gateway to the internet for many users”.

Restrictions on Android

The regulator also stated that Google must stop prioritizing its own search engine on Android. Failing to do so, Google should also be compelled to divest its mobile operating system, the DoJ suggests.

Additionally, the lawyers recommended that Google should sell its click and query data to aid competing search engines and AI startups.

Google’s Response

In response to the DoJ’s proposal, Google stated on its Keyword blog that this “astonishing proposal” would harm consumers and undermine U.S. technological leadership. According to Kent Walker, Google’s Senior Vice President for Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer, the DoJ has opted for “a radical interventionist approach that would harm Americans and America’s global leadership”.

Potential Implications of the Proposal

This conflict began in 2020 when the DoJ and several states sued Google, claiming the company paid billions to device manufacturers to secure its search engine’s default position.

If the DoJ’s proposal is successful, it would signify a major shift in how Google, a company with 182,500 employees, operates. More critically, it could significantly impact the functioning of the internet, as over 60% of web interactions start with a search query, predominantly through Google’s search engine.