The United States Justice Department, joined by several states, has asked a federal court to force Google to sell its Chrome web browser and potentially its Android operating system in a bid to dismantle Google’s dominance in online search.
This follows an August ruling by Judge Amit Mehta in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, which found Google guilty of illegally maintaining a search monopoly.
The Justice Department has provided Judge Mehta with proposals to curb Google’s control, including the forced divestment of Chrome and a choice to either sell Android or stop bundling Google services on Android-powered devices.
If these measures fail to promote competition, the government could compel the tech giant to sell Android in the future.
The filing also demands that Google cease paying companies such as Apple and Mozilla to make its search engine the default on devices.
In 2021 alone, Google spent US$26.3 billion on such deals, according to trial evidence. These agreements, the government argued, have entrenched Google’s market dominance by ensuring robust search traffic, which fuels its data-driven advantages.
Chrome, introduced in 2008, commands 67% of the global browser market, while Android powers 71% of smartphones worldwide, according to Statcounter data. Together, they form the core of Google’s ecosystem, which the Justice Department claims unfairly stifles competition.
Google denies wrongdoing, asserting that users choose its products due to quality.
Lee-Anne Mulholland, Vice President for Regulatory Affairs at Google, criticised the proposals as “radical,” warning they would harm consumers and developers.
The Justice Department also proposed measures to address artificial intelligence (AI), seeking restrictions on Google’s stakes in competing AI companies and requiring publishers to opt out of having their content used to train Google’s AI models.
This case marks the most significant antitrust action in the tech sector since the Justice Department’s attempted breakup of Microsoft in 2000.
Google will submit its own proposals by December 20, with arguments expected early next year.
If Judge Mehta’s adopts the proposals, the ruling – anticipated in mid-2025 – could set a precedent for other antitrust cases against major tech players, including Apple, Amazon and Meta.