Silke Mayr Google has strongly opposed reports that the U.S. government may require the company to sell Chrome, its flagship web browser, as part of ongoing efforts to address monopoly concerns. Chrome is the world’s most widely used browser, and the potential divestiture is linked to the Justice Department’s investigation into Google’s dominance in online search.
According to a Bloomberg report, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is expected to present the proposal to a judge on Wednesday. This comes after a ruling in August by Judge Amit Mehta, who determined that Google holds a monopoly in online search. The DOJ is now exploring possible remedies, including the forced sale of Chrome and other Google products.
While the DOJ has not officially commented on the report, Google has firmly rejected the idea. In a statement, Lee-Anne Mulholland, a Google executive, called the proposal “radical” and argued that it would have damaging effects on consumers and the tech industry.
“The DOJ’s proposed actions would harm consumers, developers, and American technological leadership,” Mulholland said. “Forcing the sale of Chrome would disrupt vital services that millions of people rely on every day and could hurt U.S. tech innovation on the global stage.”
In addition to the Chrome sale, the DOJ is reportedly considering other measures, including new regulations on Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) systems, Android operating system, and data privacy practices.
Google’s Dominance in Browsing and Search
Chrome dominates the global web browser market, with a 64.61% share as of October, according to Similarweb. Google’s search engine holds an even stronger position, with nearly 90% of the global search engine market, according to Statcounter.
As the default search engine in Chrome—and in other browsers like Safari on iPhones—Google’s control over search is a key factor in its market power. Judge Mehta’s ruling in August described the default search engine setting as “extremely valuable real estate” for Google.
“Even if a competitor were to offer a superior product, they could only compete if they were willing to pay billions of dollars in revenue-sharing agreements to secure the default position,” Mehta wrote.
DOJ’s Potential Remedies and Google’s Defense
The DOJ is expected to present its final proposed remedies to the court on Wednesday. In an October filing, the DOJ listed potential actions, including the breakup of Google’s business or restrictions on how it uses Chrome, Android, and Google Play to promote its search engine and related products.
Google has long denied that it holds a monopoly and argues that breaking off Chrome or Android would harm both the products and consumers. In its response to the DOJ’s proposal, the company warned that separating these services would disrupt their business models, raise device costs, and undermine competition with Apple’s iPhone and App Store.
“Breaking off Chrome or Android would fundamentally alter their business models, raise the cost of devices, and limit their ability to compete effectively against Apple’s ecosystem,” Google said. The company also emphasized that such a move would make it harder to secure Chrome and maintain its high standards of security.
Financial Results Amid Ongoing Scrutiny
Despite the ongoing antitrust investigation, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, reported strong financial performance. The company’s search and advertising revenue grew by 10% year-over-year to $65.9 billion. CEO Sundar Pichai also highlighted the expanding use of Google’s AI-powered search tools, which have reached millions of users.
Investors are closely monitoring Google’s stock price as the legal battle continues. With the DOJ considering potentially significant remedies, there is growing uncertainty about how the case might impact the company’s business operations and stock value moving forward.