United States to Google: Sell Google Chrome to …

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The Justice Department reiterated its demand for Google to divest its Chrome browser, continuing efforts to dismantle the company’s search monopoly. The DOJ aims to end agreements making Google the default search engine on various devices, advocating for increased competition and consumer choice in the market.

The Justice Department doubled down Friday on its demand that Google sell off its Chrome web browser, signaling that the Trump administration is continuing the Biden administration’s aggressive approach to reining in technology giants.

In a court filing, the department reiterated its request that Judge Amit P. Mehta force Google to divest Chrome and end practices that allowed the search giant to maintain what the court ruled last year was an illegal monopoly in online search.

The proposal says that Google must “promptly and fully divest Chrome, along with any assets or services necessary to successfully complete the divestiture, to a buyer approved by the Plaintiffs in their sole discretion, subject to terms that the Court and Plaintiffs approve.”

“Google’s illegal conduct has created an economic goliath, one that wreaks havoc over the marketplace to ensure that — no matter what occurs — Google always wins,” the government said in Friday’s filing. “The American people thus are forced to accept the unbridled demands and shifting, ideological preferences of an economic leviathan in return for a search engine the public may enjoy.”

The proposal follows Judge Mehta’s landmark August 2024 ruling that Google illegally maintained its search monopoly by paying web browsers and smartphone manufacturers to feature its search engine. During the 2023 trial, evidence showed Google paid $26.3 billion for these arrangements in 2021 alone.

“Through its sheer size and unrestricted power, Google has robbed consumers and businesses of a fundamental promise owed to the public—their right to choose among competing services,” the DOJ statement accompanying the filing claims.

Judge Mehta found that about 70 percent of US search queries happen through portals where Google is the default search engine, with Google’s revenue-sharing agreements making it impossible for smaller search rivals to compete. During the 2023 trial, evidence showed Google paid $26.3 billion in 2021 for deals ensuring default placement on devices and browsers. Google argued users chose its search engine because it was superior to competitors like Microsoft’s Bing or DuckDuckGo.

The Justice Department wants Google to stop entering into paid agreements with Apple, Mozilla, and smartphone makers to be the default search engine. It’s also asking the court to force Google to allow rival search engines to display Google’s results and access its data for a decade.

In a revision from earlier proposals, the government no longer demands Google divest its artificial intelligence products, instead requiring the company to notify federal and state officials before proceeding with AI investments.

The filing was signed by Omeed A. Assefi, who is leading the antitrust division while Trump’s nominee, Gail Slater, awaits Senate confirmation.

Google, which plans to appeal Judge Mehta’s ruling, filed its own proposal Friday that maintained its position that minimal changes are needed. The company suggests allowing continued payments for prime placement but with less restrictive agreements that permit other search engines to compete for placement on phones and browsers.

“The government’s proposals would harm America’s consumers, economy and national security,” Google spokesman Peter Schottenfels said in a statement.

Google’s chief legal officer, Kent Walker, previously called the government’s proposal a “radical interventionist agenda” that would “endanger the security and privacy of millions of Americans” and stifle innovation.

Judge Mehta is scheduled to hear arguments on the competing proposals in April, though Google has already indicated it will appeal whatever remedy is ordered, likely beginning a years-long legal process.

TOI Tech Desk

The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk’s news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity.Read More

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