DOJ Ruling May Force Google to Sell Chrome Browser

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Julie Blankenship

Is editor at rank1pro.com, has a decade of writing experience. With a strong background in Digital Marketing and PR Agencies.

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  • News Last Updated November 21, 2024

The U.S. Department of Justice has suggested a new antitrust intervention, this time asking Google to divest its Chrome browser and potentially the Android mobile operating system to supposedly curb search market monopolization.

Unprecedented Structural Remedies

In its 23-page court filing, the DOJ described aggressive measures aimed at dealing with Google’s dominance in online search services and search text advertising. The proposal focuses on breaking up key Google products to restore competition in markets.

Key Proposed Actions

The DOJ’s radical plan includes:

  • Mandatory divestiture of Chrome browser
  • Potential sale of Android operating system
  • Prohibition of exclusivity agreements
  • Banning self-preferencing of search products
  • Mandating data sharing with competitors

Google’s Strong Pushback

Google’s President of Global Affairs, Kent Walker, vehemently criticized the proposal, calling it a “radical interventionist agenda” that would:

  • Harm consumer experience
  • Compromise product innovation
  • Endanger user privacy and security
  • Potentially chill technological investment

Legal Background

The antitrust case, one that started in October 2020, marked a turning point in September when Judge Amit Mehta confirmed Google’s violation of antitrust laws. The current proposal could be another watershed moment for tech regulation.

Potential Industry Impact

The DOJ recommendations are expected to dramatically transform the digital space by changing the market dominance that Google has enjoyed and possibly up the ante for future actions on tech antitrust fronts.

What’s Next

Both companies are expected to unveil extensive proposals this fall with a contentious hearing planned for next year. The ruling could dramatically reshape the search and ad technology landscapes online.

The high-profile case is the most ambitious challenge from the government ever laid to one of the world’s most influential technology companies, watched closely by the tech world.