Google’s Chrome Monopoly Under Fire: What’s at Stake?

The U.S. Department of Justice has made a bold move, arguing that Google must sell its Chrome browser to break up the company’s illegal monopoly in online search . This development comes after Judge Amit Mehta’s August ruling that Google abused its power in the search business and controlled key internet gateways . The DOJ’s proposal aims to level the playing field and promote competition in the search market.

Proposed Remedies

To address Google’s monopoly, the DOJ suggests the following remedies:

– Divestment of Chrome: Google must sell its Chrome browser to eliminate its dominance in the browser market ¹.

– Android Spin-Off: The DOJ proposes that Google spin off its Android mobile operating system to prevent it from being used to disadvantage search competitors .

– Prohibition on Exclusionary Contracts: Google should be barred from entering into contracts that make it the default search engine on devices and browsers .

– Licensing Search Data: Google must license its search data and ad click data to rival companies .

– Restrictions on Future Acquisitions: After selling Chrome, Google shouldn’t acquire or own rival ad text search, query-based AI products, or ads technology .

Google’s Response

Google has slammed the DOJ’s proposal, calling it “a radical interventionist agenda” that would harm U.S. consumers and tech innovation . Kent Walker, Google’s chief legal officer, argued that the proposal would compromise user security and privacy, deteriorate Chrome and Android quality, and harm services like Mozilla Firefox, which relies on Google Search .

The Road Ahead

The outcome of this case will significantly impact the tech industry and shape the future of online search. With the trial expected to begin in 2025, Google will need to prepare its defense against the DOJ’s proposals. As the stakes are high, the world watches with bated breath to see how this landmark case unfolds.