The U.S. Department of Justice reportedly plans to ask a federal judge to order Google’s parent company, Alphabet, to divest from its Chrome browser, escalating its antitrust crackdown on the tech giant.
The request, expected to be presented in court on Wednesday, follows an earlier ruling declaring Google a monopoly due to its online search and business practices dominance.
Justice officials have also hinted at broader structural changes, potentially including separating Google’s Android operating system. This marks a significant shift in regulatory action, with calls for a breakup of Google echoing past attempts to dismantle Microsoft in the early 2000s.
The case stems from allegations that Google secured its market dominance through exclusive agreements with smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, to make its search engine the default on devices.
These deals gave Google unparalleled access to user data, reinforcing its control over 90% of the U.S. online search market and 95% of mobile searches in 2020. From this position, Google expanded into browsers, maps, and mobile operating systems.
Google dismissed the breakup proposal as “radical,” while critics, including Adam Kovacevich of the trade group Chamber of Progress, called the potential remedies overly aggressive and legally untenable.
Proposed measures could include restricting Google’s AI usage of website data and prohibiting Android from being bundled with other Google services.
Judge Amit Mehta, who ruled against Google in August, will decide on the remedies, though any ruling will likely face appeals, potentially extending the case for years and possibly reaching the Supreme Court.
