Justice Department asks judge to order Google the "immediate" sale of Chrome

DoJ seeks court order for immediate Chrome sale by Google.

: The U.S. Department of Justice is intensifying its case against Google's dominance, aiming to force the sale of its Chrome browser. The accusation highlights Google's alleged anticompetitive practices that bolster its services like Chrome by leveraging its search and advertising dominance. The government demands Judge Amit P. Mehta to mandate Google's parent, Alphabet, to divest Chrome assets to a vetted buyer. The case could lead to a trial next year, potentially affecting Google's market landscape.

On March 19, 2025, the Department of Justice (DoJ) intensified its antitrust battle against Google, pressing the company to sell its Chrome browser immediately. This legal maneuver, outlined in a court filing, is part of a broader push by the DoJ to address Google's prominent position in the digital advertising and search markets. This latest action follows a previous legal victory regarding Google's search practices and numerous contracts that set its search engine as the default on multiple devices. The DoJ accuses Google of wielding its market dominance to unfairly support other services like Chrome, which is presented as a key competitor suppressor in search and advertising sectors. Integrating Chrome with the widely used Android operating system, Google is suspected of limiting consumer choice and stifling innovation, potentially forcing smaller competitors out.

Google, under the parent company Alphabet, is being asked to divest its Chrome browser to a vetted purchaser to allay concerns about compromising national security interests. The DoJ's filing included a provision that could compel a similar divestiture of Android if Google's anticompetitive practices persist, further indicating how central the operating system is to Google's overarching market strategy.

Speaking against these accusations, Google has strongly denied acting in monopolistic ways. In a statement, a Google spokesperson rebuffed the DoJ's demands, arguing, "DoJ's sweeping proposals continue to go miles beyond the Court's decision and would harm America's consumers, economy, and national security." Google maintains that its products, including Chrome, enhance consumer experience at no cost, which challenges viewing them as anticompetitive. Despite this stance, the DoJ’s case is gaining traction and poses an intricate legal challenge for one of the tech world's giants.

If the court enforces Google's sale of Chrome and potentially Android, this could dramatically reshape both the web browsing and mobile operating system markets. This situation caters to speculation over potential implications on innovation and consumer choices. While some see this as a pathway for new entrants and diversification in these markets, others warn of negative outcomes. Critics fear that breaking apart Google’s ecosystem could lead to a fragmented and less cohesive user experience.

The unfolding antitrust case mirrors the growing calls for regulatory scrutiny on large tech companies globally. As the case possibly advances to trial within a year, its outcome might set a precedent in tackling tech monopolies, thereby altering the landscape of digital services.

Sources: TechSpot, CourtListener

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