The US Department of Justice (DoJ) plans to request Google’s antitrust trial judge to mandate the divestiture of Alphabet’s Chrome browser as part of a broader antitrust case against the search engine giant, according to reports from Bloomberg News. The move follows an earlier ruling in August 2024 where US District Judge Amit Mehta found that Google had unlawfully monopolised the search market.
The DOJ is expected to present its proposals during a trial set for April 2025, seeking remedies to address Google’s dominance in various markets, including its Chrome browser, Android operating system, and AI services. Prosecutors have suggested various corrective actions, such as terminating exclusive agreements with companies like Apple that maintain Google as the default search engine, providing advertisers greater control over their placements, and potentially restricting Google’s use of website content in AI applications.
DOJ targets Chrome’s role in Google’s market power
The DOJ’s proposals also extend to separating Android from Google’s search and app store businesses, while stopping short of forcing a sale of the mobile operating system. Additional measures may include banning exclusive contracts that were central to the DOJ’s case and requiring Google to share more data with advertisers.
Chrome, which accounts for roughly two-thirds of the global browser market, plays a crucial role in Google’s advertising ecosystem. By directing users to Google search and gathering data, the browser enables the company to refine its targeted advertising strategies. This dominance, government lawyers argue, limits competition and stifles alternative market growth.
In response, Google’s regulatory affairs vice president Lee-Anne Mulholland, criticised the DOJ’s approach, describing it as a “radical agenda” that exceeds the scope of the case and could harm consumers. Google has defended its business practices, asserting that its search engine attracts users based on quality and that competitors, including Amazon and Microsoft, provide substantial alternatives.
The DOJ’s measures represent one of the Biden administration’s most aggressive efforts to tackle alleged monopolistic practices within the technology sector.
Google has indicated its intent to appeal Judge Mehta’s final ruling, expected by August 2025. Meanwhile, the DOJ could still decide on the necessity of a Chrome sale depending on how other remedies influence market competition.
In September, reports surfaced that Alphabet requested a London tribunal to dismiss a large-scale lawsuit alleging that the Google parent company abused its dominance in the online search market. The lawsuit is potentially worth up to £7bn.
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