US Department of Justice pushes Google to sell Chrome in antitrust crackdown

The DOJ's Google Chrome antitrust decision aims to challenge Google's market dominance, requiring the company to stop paying for preferential search treatment and notify the DOJ about any future collaborations with search or ad competitors

In a significant development in the Google antitrust case, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has mandated that the tech giant divest its Chrome browser as part of a broader strategy to address allegations of anti-competitive behaviour. This proposal, filed on March 7, stipulates that Google sell Chrome along with any associated assets and services necessary for the successful transfer, to a buyer approved by the plaintiffs and the court.

The Google Chrome antitrust decision is part of the DOJ's ongoing efforts to challenge Google’s market dominance, particularly in the areas of search engines and online advertising. Additionally, the DOJ is pushing Google to cease paying companies for preferential treatment of its search engine and to notify the DOJ in advance of any future joint ventures, partnerships, or collaborations with companies that compete with Google in search or online ads.

The latest filing does not require Google to divest its artificial intelligence (AI) investments but does mandate prior notification for any future AI acquisitions or investments. This move signals the DOJ’s focus on addressing the broader implications of Google’s market practices, particularly in areas that directly impact consumer choice and competition.

DOJ criticizes Google’s market dominance

The DOJ’s filing sharply criticizes Google’s practices, claiming that the company has abused its market power to prevent consumers from freely choosing competing services. "Google’s illegal conduct has created an economic goliath, one that wreaks havoc over the marketplace to ensure that—no matter what occurs—Google always wins," the DOJ stated.

This lawsuit, filed by the DOJ in 2020, is the largest US antitrust lawsuit since the Department's long-running battle with Microsoft in the 1990s. The DOJ alleges that Google has engaged in anticompetitive tactics, including securing exclusive contracts that make its search engine the default on web browsers and smartphones, manipulating its ad auction system to inflate prices, and driving up ad revenue unfairly.

Google, which commands a dominant 90% share of the US search market, has defended its actions, arguing that its success stems from offering the best search technology. The company also contends that users can easily switch to other search engines, pointing to competitors like Microsoft.

In August 2024, the court ruled that Google had indeed violated antitrust laws by maintaining an illegal monopoly in both general search and search text ads, a decision that could reshape the tech giant’s business practices moving forward. The Google Chrome DOJ decision is the latest step in a lengthy and high-stakes legal battle that could have broad implications for the future of competition in the tech industry. 

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