U.S government wants Google to part ways with Chrome browser

Olumide Adesina•Thursday, November 21, 2024•2 min read

The Department of Justice has urged Google to divest its Chrome browser in response to a monopoly ruling in August. Google leverages the browser to obtain data, subsequently aids in targeted advertising.

The DOJ asserted that discontinuing Chrome would level the search market playing field for competitors. “The Initial Proposed Final Judgment” requires Google to relinquish Chrome, thereby ending its dominance over this crucial search entry point and enabling rival search engines to gain access to the browser that serves as a digital doorway for numerous internet users,” the 23-page filing explains.

The U.S. government added that measures should be implemented to prevent Google from extinguishing “upcoming competitive rivals through acquisitions, minority investments, or partnerships.”

The DOJ indicated that the suggested solutions would last for a decade. The document also advises that the search company should be compelled to deliver to a technical committee a monthly summary outlining any alterations to its search text ad auction process. “

The proposed remedies are intended to curb Google’s illegal activities and foster an environment where competitors and fresh entrants can flourish,” the filing notes.

A federal judge declared in August that Google maintains a monopolistic stance in the search market. This judgment followed the government’s filing of a groundbreaking case in 2020, accusing Google of maintaining dominance in the general search market by establishing formidable barriers for new competitors and fostering a self-sustaining cycle. The court ruled that Google had infringed upon Section 2 of the Sherman Act, which prohibits monopolies.

Lately, the DOJ has suggested splitting up Google’s businesses, possibly including Chrome, Play, and Android divisions. It also proposed limiting or prohibiting default agreements and certain revenue-generating arrangements tied to search and search-related products. This would extend to Google’s search deals with Apple on iPhones and Samsung on their mobile devices, which result in annual payments worth billions of dollars.

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Olumide Adesina

Financial Market Writer

Olumide Adesina is a French-born Nigerian financial writer. He tracks, analyzes, and reports changes in financial markets with over 15 years of working experience in investment trading.