DOJ Seeks Court Order for Google to Divest Chrome, According to Bloomberg
According to a report by Bloomberg News on Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice intends to request that a judge compel Alphabet's Google to divest its Chrome internet browser, as per sources familiar with the matter.
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According to a Bloomberg News report on Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) plans to request a judge to mandate that Alphabet's Google divest its Chrome internet browser. This decision comes in the wake of a ruling in August that found Google had illegally monopolized the search market.
In addition to seeking the sale of Chrome, the DOJ will urge the judge to impose regulations pertaining to artificial intelligence and Google's Android smartphone operating system. Google’s control over the internet browsing experience and advertising visibility is significantly influenced by its Chrome browser, which predominantly utilizes Google search, collects valuable data for Google's advertising business, and commands about two-thirds of the global browser market.
The DOJ has not provided any comments on this matter. In a statement from Lee-Anne Mulholland, vice president for Google Regulatory Affairs, the company criticized the DOJ for promoting a "radical agenda that goes far beyond the legal issues in this case," asserting that such actions would be detrimental to consumers.
This initiative represents one of the Biden administration's most assertive efforts to address what it characterizes as monopolistic behavior among Big Tech companies.
The potential re-election of Donald Trump as president could significantly influence the case's outcome. Just two months before the election, Trump voiced his intent to prosecute Google for alleged bias against him. However, he expressed doubts about breaking up the company a month later.
Google plans to appeal once U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta issues a final ruling, expected by August 2025. A trial regarding the proposed remedies has been set for April.
The DOJ has considered various remedies, ranging from terminating exclusive agreements in which Google pays billions each year to remain the default search engine on mobile devices and tablets, to divesting portions of its business, including Chrome and the Android operating system.
Given Chrome's substantial market share, it plays a critical role in generating revenue for Google. Furthermore, when users log into Chrome with a Google account, the company can deliver more targeted search advertisements.
Google asserts that its search engine has attracted users due to its quality, noting that it faces strong competition from Amazon and other platforms, and emphasizes that users can select alternative search engines as their defaults.
The government can later determine if selling Chrome is necessary, depending on whether other remedy components foster a more competitive market, according to the Bloomberg report.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
In addition to seeking the sale of Chrome, the DOJ will urge the judge to impose regulations pertaining to artificial intelligence and Google's Android smartphone operating system. Google’s control over the internet browsing experience and advertising visibility is significantly influenced by its Chrome browser, which predominantly utilizes Google search, collects valuable data for Google's advertising business, and commands about two-thirds of the global browser market.
The DOJ has not provided any comments on this matter. In a statement from Lee-Anne Mulholland, vice president for Google Regulatory Affairs, the company criticized the DOJ for promoting a "radical agenda that goes far beyond the legal issues in this case," asserting that such actions would be detrimental to consumers.
This initiative represents one of the Biden administration's most assertive efforts to address what it characterizes as monopolistic behavior among Big Tech companies.
The potential re-election of Donald Trump as president could significantly influence the case's outcome. Just two months before the election, Trump voiced his intent to prosecute Google for alleged bias against him. However, he expressed doubts about breaking up the company a month later.
Google plans to appeal once U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta issues a final ruling, expected by August 2025. A trial regarding the proposed remedies has been set for April.
The DOJ has considered various remedies, ranging from terminating exclusive agreements in which Google pays billions each year to remain the default search engine on mobile devices and tablets, to divesting portions of its business, including Chrome and the Android operating system.
Given Chrome's substantial market share, it plays a critical role in generating revenue for Google. Furthermore, when users log into Chrome with a Google account, the company can deliver more targeted search advertisements.
Google asserts that its search engine has attracted users due to its quality, noting that it faces strong competition from Amazon and other platforms, and emphasizes that users can select alternative search engines as their defaults.
The government can later determine if selling Chrome is necessary, depending on whether other remedy components foster a more competitive market, according to the Bloomberg report.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
