Justice department seeks to force Google to sell Chrome browser

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to ask a federal judge to compel Google to sell its Chrome web browser as part of a historic crackdown on the tech giant’s search monopoly, according to Bloomberg News.

The request comes following an August ruling that found Google had illegally monopolised the search market. Chrome, which controls about 61 per cent of the browser market in the US, represents a crucial access point through which many users access Google’s search engine.

Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs, strongly criticised the move, stating that the DOJ “continues to push a radical agenda that goes far beyond the legal issues in this case.” She warned that such government intervention “would harm consumers, developers and American technological leadership at precisely the moment it is most needed.”

The antitrust officials are also expected to recommend measures related to artificial intelligence and the Android smartphone operating system. These include requiring Google to licence its search results and data, and to give websites more control over how their content is used in Google’s AI products.

The proposal would also require Google to decouple its Android operating system from other products, including search and its Google Play mobile app store, which are currently sold as a bundle.

Chrome’s ownership is particularly vital for Google’s advertising business, as the browser allows the company to track signed-in users’ activity and more effectively target advertisements, which generate the majority of its revenue.

The case, initially filed during the Trump administration and continued under President Biden, represents the most aggressive attempt to regulate a technology company since the unsuccessful effort to break up Microsoft two decades ago.

Federal judge Amit Mehta has scheduled a two-week hearing in April to consider what changes Google must implement to remedy its illegal behaviour, with a final ruling expected by August 2025. Google has already indicated its intention to appeal the decision.

The proposed Chrome sale would depend on finding a suitable buyer capable of making such a significant purchase.