The United States Department of Justice and a coalition of state attorneys general are pushing forward the antitrust case against Google, seeking a court order to force Alphabet Inc. to sell the Chrome browser.
The DOJ’s latest push comes after a federal judge ruled in August that Google violated antitrust laws by monopolising the online search market. The proposed remedies aim to curb Google’s dominance across multiple domains, including search, AI, and Android operating system, reported Bloomberg.
The DOJ’s recommendation centres on the divestiture of Chrome, the world’s most popular web browser, which accounts for 61% of browser usage in the U.S.
Chrome’s integration with Google Search and its role in harvesting user data for targeted advertising has made it a linchpin of Google’s business model.
The DOJ is also seeking measures to disentangle Google’s Android operating system from its search and Google Play services, addressing concerns about bundling these products.
Beyond Chrome, the DOJ is targeting Google’s growing influence in AI. The agency plans to propose licensing requirements for Google’s search data and AI outputs, a move designed to foster competition among emerging AI platforms and rival search engines.
Google’s AI-powered ‘Overviews’ feature, which provides direct answers at the top of search results, has faced backlash from publishers who claim it diverts traffic and revenue from their websites. Critics argue that while Google allows websites to opt out of AI training, refusing participation in AI Overviews risks losing search visibility.
Antitrust officials also advocate for Google to syndicate its search results and ‘click and query’ data without restrictive conditions. This could provide competitors with the tools to build better search engines and AI applications.
Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, condemned the DOJ’s actions, stating, “The government is overreaching in ways that harm consumers, developers, and the nation’s tech leadership.”
The case now heads to the U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, who will oversee a hearing in April 2025 to determine the scope of the remedies. A final ruling is expected by August 2025.
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