Calls for Sale of Chrome Browser

   November 22, 2024  Posted in HackRead


The DOJ proposes tough proposals in its antitrust lawsuit against Google, including selling the Chrome browser, limiting search deals, and restructuring its operations to limit monopoly.

As part of its antitrust lawsuit against Google, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has proposed major changes that could entirely change the tech giant’s business structure and its role on the Internet.

The DOJ’s latest filing seeks the divestiture of key Google assets, including its Chrome browser, and calls for structural changes that could impact Android and its search operations. Google has strongly criticized the proposals, framing them as a threat to innovation, security, and consumer choice.

Background of the Lawsuit

The DOJ first filed its antitrust lawsuit against Google in October 2020, accusing the company of abusing its dominance in the search engine market to squash competition. The case focuses on Google’s search distribution agreements with major partners, such as Apple, Mozilla, and smartphone manufacturers, which allegedly back its monopoly by making Google Search the default on browsers and devices.

The DOJ argues that these practices harm competition by blocking rival search engines from gaining a foothold in the market. Central to the case is the allegation that Google’s actions prevent fair competition and innovation, ultimately harming consumers.

What the DOJ Proposes

Hackread.com analysed the DoJ’s latest filing (PDF). Here’s what the Department has outlined and proposed to end Google’s dominance:

  • Divestiture of Chrome and Possibly Android: The DOJ suggests that Google sell its Chrome browser and its Android operating system to limit its control over internet access points.
  • Search Choice Screens: The proposal requires Google to implement choice screens, where users select their preferred search engine on devices like Google Pixel phones. This design must be approved by a newly proposed “Technical Committee.”
  • Data Sharing Requirements: Google would be required to share search data and innovations with competitors, including foreign companies.
  • Ban on Default Search Agreements: The DOJ aims to prohibit Google from entering into agreements with partners like Apple or Mozilla to make Google Search the default engine.

The DOJ has framed these measures as necessary to ensure fair competition and restore balance to the digital marketplace.

Google’s Response

In response, Google has strongly pushed back against the DOJ’s proposals, describing them as extreme, radical interventionist agenda, and harmful to consumers. In a blog post published November 11, 2024, Google argued that the proposals would:

  • Compromise Privacy and Security: Divesting Chrome and Android could lead to increased risks for user data and diminish the security features Google has built into these platforms.
  • Stifle Innovation: Google warned that the measures could chill investment in cutting-edge technologies, particularly in artificial intelligence, where the company is a global leader.
  • Hurt Partners and Developers: Google claims the proposals would harm partners like Mozilla, whose Firefox browser relies on revenue from Google’s search placement agreements.
  • Introduce Overregulation: Google criticized the creation of a Technical Committee with broad powers to oversee its operations as an unprecedented overreach.

Google maintains that its dominance in the search market is due to offering “the industry’s highest quality search engine,” not through unfair practices. The company plans to submit its own proposals and continue its legal battle into the next year.

Industry-Wide Implications

If the DOJ’s proposals are implemented, the tech industry could see a major change in power dynamics and business practices:

  • Impact on Browser and Operating System Markets: Forcing Google to sell Chrome and potentially Android would create opportunities for competitors, but it might also disrupt the user experience for millions who rely on Google’s integrated ecosystem.
  • Search Market Competition: Measures like search choice screens could pave the way for smaller search engines to gain traction, but critics argue that such interventions may confuse users and lead to inferior experiences.
  • AI Development: Google’s claims about reduced AI investment could have far-reaching consequences for advancements in automation, machine learning, and related industries.
  • Global Technology Leadership: The case raises concerns about U.S. competitiveness in technology, as the remedies could weaken one of the nation’s largest and most influential tech companies.

Nevertheless, the DOJ’s proposals mean a straightforward measure to limit one of the most powerful companies in the world, but the battle is far from over. Google has vowed to contest the measures, and the case will likely drag on for months if not years.

This legal battle will also challenge how we balance competition and innovation in the tech world. Its outcome could change how we use technology and online search for years to come.

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