DoJ pushes for Google’s Chrome divestiture in landmark antitrust case
Mumbai: The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has proposed groundbreaking measures to curb Google’s dominance in the digital space, including the potential forced sale of its Chrome browser. This follows Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling that Google wields monopolistic power in the search engine market.
Proposed remedies include separating browser functionality from other web services, converting Chrome into a public benefit corporation, and barring Google from paying third parties like Apple to set its search engine as the default. The DoJ is also advocating for a five-year ban on Google re-entering the browser market, requiring it to open its search index to rivals, and allowing content creators to block their data from being used in AI model training.
Google, which handles 90% of internet searches in the U.S., has been accused of stifling fair competition. Alphabet’s Chief Legal Officer, Kent Walker, condemned the proposals as “unprecedented government overreach” that could harm consumers and impede technological advancement.
The Movement for an Open Web (MOW) notes that Google and Apple’s dominance stems from their control over Chrome and Safari, which manage significant internet traffic and secure their advertising supremacy. With Chrome commanding 65% of the global browser market, a divestiture could reshape the digital economy and Google’s advertising ecosystem.
Judge Mehta will evaluate these remedies in an April hearing, where Google is expected to present counter-proposals. The outcome could mark a turning point in antitrust regulation for the global tech industry.