Google has warned that forcing it to divest Chrome, the world’s leading web browser, would negatively impact both consumers and businesses. This comes amid reports that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to suggest this measure to a federal judge on Wednesday, according to BBC.
In August, Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google holds a monopoly in the online search market and has since been evaluating potential penalties or remedies. While the DOJ has not commented on the reported proposals, Google has voiced strong opposition.
Lee-Anne Mulholland, a Google executive, described the DOJ’s approach as “radical,” asserting it exceeds the scope of the legal issues in the case. She added, “Government interference of this nature would harm consumers, developers, and U.S. technological leadership at a critical time.”
Reports also indicate that the DOJ may request Google to implement stricter measures concerning artificial intelligence, its Android operating system, and its data practices.
Chrome currently dominates the global browser market with a 64.61% share as of October, according to Similarweb. Meanwhile, Google Search holds a near-monopoly with nearly 90% of the global search engine market, Statcounter data shows.
Judge Mehta previously noted that Google’s control over default search engine agreements provided it with significant leverage. “A new competitor, regardless of quality, would need to pay billions in revenue shares to even compete for these agreements,” he stated.
The DOJ, expected to finalize its proposed remedies by Wednesday, has previously indicated that it is considering breaking up parts of Google. In October filings, it outlined potential measures to prevent Google from leveraging products like Chrome, Android, and its Play Store to favor its search-related businesses.
Google has dismissed these proposals, arguing that breaking up its operations would harm its business model, raise device costs, and weaken its ability to compete with Apple. It also warned that such actions could compromise Chrome’s security.
Despite these challenges, Google’s revenue from search and advertising grew by 10%, reaching $65.9 billion in its latest quarterly results. CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted the rapid adoption of the company’s AI-powered search tools by millions of users.
Google’s stock remains under scrutiny, as investors monitor the DOJ’s proposals and their potential impact on the tech giant.
