Google could be forced to sell of the company’s Chrome web browser and be required to make changes to other company products and services, including Android and AI.
Bloomberg reports that Justice Department antitrust officials will ask a judge to force Alphabet Inc to make the changes. The same judge ruled in August that Google has monopolized the search market illegally.
Why Chrome? According to Bloomberg, Chrome is the entry point for many interactions with Google Search. It is the default search engine on Chrome and most users keep it that way. Chrome is also a powerful weapon for Google to understand what users are searching for and what they do on the Internet.
Lastly, Google is using Chrome to support or promote other products and services. AI will play a much bigger role in the future, and what better way than Chrome to get it in from of hundreds of million of Chrome users.
Google may also be forced to “uncouple its Android smartphone operating system from its other products”. This includes search and Google Play.
Bloomberg says that the government has options to remove Chrome from the deal if Google makes other changes that “create a more competitive market”.
The judge planned for a two-week hearing in April 2025 and a final verdict by August 2025. Google already said that it is going to appeal the verdict.
Closing Words
The forced sale of Chrome and some of the other changes would have a major impact on Google’s business. With Chrome sold, it might have to broker a deal with the company that acquired the browser to make Google Search the default search engine. Considering that it pays millions to Mozilla and billions to Apple for that, it would probably cost Google a lot to remain Chrome’s default search engine.
The final verdict is less than a year away, but that won’t be the end of it. Google will appeal, which means that it could years before anything comes out of it.
What is your take on this? Should Google be forced to sell Chrome or make changes to any of its other services or products?
Are Sergey Brin and Trump good friends? If so, all Sergey has to do is to offer a little praise to Trump – the guy is such a vain, narcissistic individual and can be easily manipulated if you tell him you like him – and request that Chrome stays firmly under Google’s control and then they can carry on like before.