The U.S. Department of Justice is stepping up its case against Google over alleged monopoly, suggesting the government may eventually force Google to sell its widely used Chrome browser. The move is part of the Justice Department's push to challenge Google's control of the digital advertising and search engine markets.
The Justice Department's latest legal action accuses Google of engaging in anticompetitive conduct by unfairly leveraging its dominance in search and advertising to favor other services, most notably the Chrome browser. The government argued that Google's browser and vast data ecosystem gave the company an advantage over rivals, stifling innovation and harming consumers. By bundling the Chrome browser with its Android operating system, Google has created a massive network that could limit consumer choice and make it difficult for small businesses to compete.
"Google's illegal conduct created an economic juggernaut that wreaked havoc on markets to ensure that no matter what happened, Google always won," the Justice Department said in the filing.
It asked the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., and Judge Amit P. Mehta (Amit P. Mehta) to order Alphabet to immediately divest all assets related to the Chrome browser to a "vetted" buyer. In other words, Google must sell Chrome to its competitors. The government will vet potential buyers to ensure they do not harm national security interests.
You can view the plaintiff's revised executive summary of the proposed final judgment through CourtListener.
Last year, the Justice Department scored a legal victory in an antitrust case against Google over its search practices and anticompetitive dealings with other companies, making its search engine the default option on many devices. Now, the agency has set its sights on the Chrome browser, seeking tougher action. If the government succeeds in forcing Google to sell its Chrome browser, the company could also face additional scrutiny of Android, the world's most widely used mobile operating system.
Many experts believe that Android may face forced divestiture like the Chrome browser because of its key role in Google's alleged monopoly strategy. The Justice Department included such a provision in proposed remedies it revised earlier this month.
While Google has yet to comment on the potential sale of its Chrome browser, the company has vehemently denied accusations of monopolistic behavior and would unsurprisingly oppose the forced divestment of any of its assets.
A Google spokesperson said: "The Department of Justice's sweeping proposal continues to go far beyond the court's decision and will harm U.S. consumers, the economy and national security."
Google argued that its products, including the Chrome browser, improve the user experience and are provided free to consumers, so it is difficult to see how its services would constitute anti-competition. However, the U.S. Justice Department's prosecution continues, and government officials have said the case could go to trial within the next year.
The outcome of this case could reshape the internet as we know it. If Google were required to divest itself of Chrome and Android, it would open the door to new competitors in the browser and mobile operating system markets. However, the long-term impact remains unclear, and some worry that breaking up Google's ecosystem could lead to a fragmented Internet experience and poor user experience.