Bloomberg Report: US DOJ Plans to Request Judge to Compel Google to Divest Chrome Due to Monopoly Issues

The US Justice Department is advocating for Google to divest Chrome, pointing to the company’s significant control over search and advertising sectors.

According to a report by Bloomberg News on Monday, the US Department of Justice is set to request that a judge compel Alphabet’s Google to divest its Chrome internet browser, as per sources familiar with the plans.

The DOJ is expected to request that the judge, who determined in August that Google unlawfully monopolized the search market, impose requirements concerning artificial intelligence and its Android smartphone operating system, according to the report.

Google influences public perception of the internet and the advertisements users encounter, largely through its Chrome browser. This browser generally defaults to Google search, collects data crucial for Google’s advertising operations, and is estimated to hold around two-thirds of the global browser market share.

The Department of Justice chose not to provide a comment. In a statement from Lee-Anne Mulholland, vice president of Google Regulatory Affairs, the company expressed that the DOJ is advocating for a “radical agenda that goes far beyond the legal issues in this case,” which would ultimately be detrimental to consumers.

The action would represent one of the most assertive efforts by the Biden administration to address what it claims are monopolistic practices by Big Tech.

Ultimately, the re-election of Donald Trump to the presidency could significantly influence the case.

Two months prior to the election, Trump asserted that he would take legal action against Google, citing what he views as bias directed towards him. However, a month later, Trump raised doubts about the wisdom of breaking up the company.

The company intends to file an appeal following the final ruling from US District Judge Amit Mehta, expected by August 2025. Mehta has arranged a trial regarding the remedy proposals for April.

Prosecutors proposed various potential remedies in the case, including the termination of exclusive agreements in which Google pays billions of dollars each year to Apple Inc and other companies to maintain its status as the default search engine on tablets and smartphones, as well as the possibility of divesting certain segments of its business, like Chrome and the Android operating system.

The significant market share of Chrome makes it a crucial source of revenue for Google. When users log into Chrome using a Google account, it enables Google to provide more tailored search advertisements.

Google asserts that its search engine has gained users due to its quality, noting that it encounters strong competition from Amazon and other platforms, and that users have the option to select different search engines as their default.

The government has the authority to determine if a Chrome sale is warranted at a future time, should other elements of the remedy foster a more competitive market, according to the Bloomberg report.