Google Faces Pressure to Sell Chrome Amid Antitrust Case- On Friday, the Justice Department reinforced its stance that Google should be required to sell its Chrome browser, signaling that the Trump administration is continuing the aggressive stance on regulating tech giants taken by the Biden administration.
In a new court filing, the department once again urged Judge Amit P. Mehta to order Google to divest Chrome and terminate practices that the court ruled last year had allowed Google to maintain an unlawful monopoly in online search. The filing proposes that Google “promptly and fully divest Chrome, along with any related assets or services necessary for a successful sale, to a buyer approved by the Plaintiffs, under terms the Court and Plaintiffs agree upon.”
The department’s filing asserts that Google’s monopoly has created an economic powerhouse that distorts the market, ensuring its dominance no matter the circumstances. “The American people are left with no choice but to submit to the demands and shifting priorities of an economic giant in exchange for a search engine they may prefer,” the filing stated.
This push follows Judge Mehta’s pivotal ruling in August 2024, which found that Google illegally maintained its search monopoly by paying manufacturers of web browsers and smartphones to make its search engine the default. Evidence presented during the 2023 trial showed Google spent $26.3 billion in 2021 on such deals.
The DOJ argues that through its massive size and unchecked power, Google has deprived consumers and businesses of their right to choose between competing services. “Google’s conduct has essentially forced the public into accepting its terms,” the statement reads.
Judge Mehta’s ruling found that approximately 70% of search queries in the U.S. happen through platforms where Google is the default search engine, largely due to Google’s lucrative revenue-sharing agreements, which have effectively shut out smaller search engines. While Google argues that users prefer its search engine due to its superior quality compared to rivals like Microsoft’s Bing or DuckDuckGo, the DOJ’s filing emphasizes the anti-competitive nature of these agreements.
As part of its request, the Justice Department is also seeking to halt Google’s paid arrangements with Apple, Mozilla, and other smartphone manufacturers to make Google the default search engine. Additionally, it’s demanding that Google allow competing search engines to display its search results and access its data for a decade.
In a shift from previous proposals, the DOJ no longer seeks to force Google to divest its artificial intelligence products. Instead, it now requires the company to notify federal and state authorities before making significant AI investments.
Google, which plans to appeal Judge Mehta’s ruling, has filed its own proposal, which insists that only minimal changes are necessary. The company suggests that it should be allowed to continue paying for prime placement but with less restrictive agreements that would allow other search engines to compete for the default spot on devices and browsers.
In response to the DOJ’s filing, Google spokesman Peter Schottenfels said, “The government’s proposals would harm American consumers, the economy, and national security.” Google’s Chief Legal Officer, Kent Walker, previously criticized the DOJ’s plan as a “radical interventionist agenda” that would “threaten the security and privacy of millions of Americans” and stifle innovation.
Judge Mehta is scheduled to hear arguments from both sides in April, though Google has already indicated it will appeal whatever decision is made, setting the stage for a lengthy legal battle.
