DOJ seeks historic action against Google, proposes force-sale of Chrome

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is intensifying its antitrust actions against Google, proposing a historic move that could reshape the tech landscape. The DOJ has asked federal judge Amit Mehta to force Alphabet to sell its Chrome browser, which is a cornerstone of Google’s dominance in the search market, Bloomberg reported.

This proposal follows a ruling from August 2024 that found Google guilty of illegally monopolizing the search market.

The DOJ’s latest recommendation also includes measures related to artificial intelligence (AI) and the Android operating system, with the potential to impact both Google’s core advertising business and its burgeoning AI ventures. The case, which spans two presidential administrations, aims to address Google’s practices that critics argue suppress competition.

In addition to the sale of Chrome, the DOJ is pushing for data licensing requirements and for Google to uncouple its Android smartphone operating system from its other products, such as Google Search and Google Play, the report said quoting sources who wished not to be named.

These moves are designed to increase competition by giving rival companies more access to essential data and technologies currently controlled by Google, the report added.

“The DOJ’s attempt to force Google to sell Chrome is unprecedented and faces significant legal and practical challenges,” said Xiaofeng Wang, principal analyst at Forrester. “Google’s potential appeals could delay or overturn the decision. In addition, finding a suitable buyer without similar antitrust issues is also difficult.”

In October this year, the DOJ had proposed splitting off Google’s Chrome browser and Android operating system as part of sweeping remedies aimed at curbing the tech giant’s “illegal monopoly” in online search and advertising.

“The DOJ is considering behavioral and structural remedies that would prevent Google from using products such as Chrome, Play, and Android to advantage Google search and Google search-related products and features — including emerging search access points and features, such as artificial intelligence — over rivals or new entrants,” the DOJ said in a court filing then.

Google seems to be deeply disturbed by this development.

“The DOJ continues to push a radical agenda that goes far beyond the legal issues in this case,” Lee-Anne Mulholland, vice president of Google’s regulatory affairs, said in a statement. “The government putting its thumb on the scale in these ways would harm consumers, developers, and American technological leadership at precisely the moment it is most needed.”

A query to the DOJ remains unanswered.

Chrome’s dominance and the push for a sale

The proposed sale of Chrome stems from its critical role in Google’s search business. Chrome, which controls roughly 65% of the global browser market, serves as the primary gateway for users accessing Google’s search engine. By owning Chrome, Google can track signed-in users and better target ads, which form the bulk of its revenue. Additionally, Chrome has been used to funnel users toward Google’s AI-driven products, such as its Gemini AI system.

In an effort to protect consumers and developers, the DOJ’s proposed measures aim to reduce Google’s power to favor its own products. If the sale of Chrome proceeds, it could unlock new opportunities for competitors, potentially creating a more balanced online search market and encouraging innovation in AI.

The DOJ is also seeking to reshape how Google uses data, particularly in relation to its AI products. Google’s AI-driven search results, branded as “AI Overviews,” have drawn criticism from website publishers who argue that these summaries hurt their web traffic and ad revenue by providing answers directly on the search results page. To address this, the DOJ is proposing that Google be required to license its search data and allow websites more control over how their content is used in Google’s AI models.

Another key aspect of the DOJ’s recommendations includes pushing Google to make its search results more widely available to competitors. This could allow rival search engines and AI startups to improve their services using Google’s syndicated search data, which is currently restricted.

Implications for Google’s future

These developments are poised to alter Google’s business operations significantly. While the company has expressed its opposition to these proposals, with Google’s VP calling the DOJ’s actions “radical,” the potential reforms could lead to a more competitive digital ecosystem.

“If the DOJ succeeds in forcing Google to sell Chrome, it would likely impact Google’s ad targeting and measurement capabilities due to reduced data availability,” Wang noted. “This could decrease ad effectiveness and revenue, pushing Google to develop new data collection methods or innovate its ad strategies.”

For context, Google’s revenue from advertisement was $237.8 billion of its total $305.6 billion in 2023.

Despite the far-reaching nature of these measures, the DOJ has stopped short of requiring Google to sell Android, a move that had been considered but ultimately deemed less essential than the changes proposed for Chrome and AI data.

The case, which will see further developments in 2025, is expected to have lasting effects on the tech industry. If the DOJ’s proposals are implemented, they could set a precedent for regulating the power of large tech companies in both the online search and AI markets.

“This action could set a precedent, leading to increased scrutiny of other tech giants like Amazon and Apple,” Wang added.

According to him, successful measures against Google might “encourage regulators to target other dominant players, reshaping the tech landscape.”