DOJ Reportedly Urges Google to Divest Chrome to End Search Market Dominance

Top officials from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) are reportedly preparing to ask a federal judge to mandate the sale of Google’s Chrome browser as part of a broader effort to address the company’s alleged monopoly in the search market. This move would mark a significant escalation in the ongoing antitrust case against Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google. The DOJ has been investigating Google’s dominance in the digital advertising and search sectors for years, and this latest action is seen as a pivotal step in efforts to rein in its power.

In addition to the potential forced sale of Chrome, the DOJ is expected to request further measures aimed at curbing Google’s reach in areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its Android smartphone operating system. According to sources familiar with the matter, the department believes that these actions are necessary to restore competition and address Google’s unfair practices that harm both consumers and competitors.

Federal antitrust officials, along with several states that have joined the case, are also advocating for the imposition of strict data licensing requirements. These measures, expected to be recommended to Judge Amit Mehta, would force Google to allow its competitors greater access to the data it has long monopolized, potentially leveling the playing field for rival search engines and other tech companies in the digital space.

This unprecedented move against one of the world’s most powerful tech companies signals the DOJ’s commitment to tackling anticompetitive practices in the tech industry. If the judge agrees to these recommendations, it could set a major precedent for future antitrust actions in the rapidly evolving technology landscape.