Google could be forced to sell Chrome to end search monopoly

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has proposed a series of remedies aimed at curbing Google’s monopoly in the online search market, which could significantly alter the company’s operations. In a filing submitted late Wednesday, the DOJ suggested that Google be required to sell its Chrome web browser, a move that could severely impact the company’s market dominance.

The DOJ’s proposed remedies stem from a landmark antitrust ruling in August, in which District Judge Amit Mehta determined that Google had unlawfully stifled competition in the online search industry. The DOJ’s recommendations also included prohibiting Google from entering into exclusive agreements with companies like Apple and Samsung, which have made Google’s search engine the default on their smartphones and browsers. This would limit Google’s ability to maintain its dominant position across a range of platforms.

The DOJ was joined by a coalition of US states in supporting these proposed changes, arguing that they would promote greater competition in the search market, which has long been dominated by Google. In their court filing, the government lawyers stated, “Restoring competition to the markets for general search and search text advertising as they exist today will require reactivating the competitive process that Google has long stifled.”

In response, Google strongly criticized the DOJ’s approach, accusing the department of pushing a “radical interventionist agenda” that could harm American consumers and the nation’s global technology leadership. Kent Walker, Google’s president of global affairs, said in a statement, “The DOJ’s wildly overbroad proposal goes miles beyond the Court’s decision… It would break a range of Google products—even beyond Search—that people love and find helpful in their everyday lives.”

While Google is expected to present its own proposed remedies by December 20, Judge Mehta is not expected to issue a final ruling until the summer of 2025.

Google’s search engine accounts for about 90% of global online searches, according to Statcounter, and its dominance has been a point of contention for critics who argue that its control over both search and browsing has given it an unfair competitive advantage. The DOJ’s proposal suggests that Google’s ownership of Chrome and its Android operating system has allowed it to funnel users to its search engine, further entrenching its position. As part of the proposed remedies, the DOJ is also advocating for a five-year ban on Google re-entering the browser market.

Additionally, the DOJ is calling for court oversight of Android, to prevent Google from using the mobile operating system to favor its search engine and search text advertising monopolies. These actions aim to restore a level of competition in the search and browser markets that critics argue has been stifled by Google’s dominance.

The case, filed during the final months of Donald Trump’s first administration, could face new challenges under the incoming Biden administration. However, with the case already underway, it seems unlikely that the new administration will back away from the lawsuit. As Professor Rebecca Allensworth of Vanderbilt Law School noted, “It would be odd for the second Trump administration to back off a lawsuit that they filed themselves.” Even if President Trump were to attempt to halt the case, the states involved in the lawsuit could continue to push forward with the litigation independently.

Experts suggest that the proposed changes could have a profound impact on the online search market. Professor Laura Phillips-Sawyer of the University of Georgia School of Law explained that Google’s dominance in search has allowed it to gather vast amounts of user data, refining its search algorithms and selling text ads. However, she argued that Google’s exclusive contracts with major tech companies have made it nearly impossible for new entrants to break into the search market. Without access to a distribution channel, no new search engine can effectively reach consumers, stifling innovation.

If Judge Mehta accepts the DOJ’s proposals, competitors to Google could have a chance to thrive, creating a more competitive environment in the online search market. This, in turn, could lead to greater innovation and more options for consumers. However, much uncertainty remains, as the legal battle continues and the full scope of the DOJ’s recommendations unfolds in the coming months.