The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly intensifying its push for Google to sell its Chrome browser. Under new conditions, Google would be prohibited from launching a new browser for at least five years after selling Chrome, according to PhoneArena.
The DOJ aims to completely separate Google from Chrome and end the practice of paying third parties to set Google Search as the default search engine in their browsers. These measures are part of efforts to break Google’s monopoly in the search engine market.
Google Pushes Back
Google has called the conditions “extreme and unreasonable,” arguing that such steps could pose risks to Americans’ privacy.
Shift from Android Sale Proposal
Initially, the DOJ had suggested Google sell its Android operating system, but the proposal was later replaced with the demand to sell Chrome. Additionally, Google may be required to separate services like Search and Play Store from its Android platform.
Legal Proceedings
Judge Amit Mehta, who has previously ruled against Google’s search business monopoly, will oversee the case in April next year. Google is expected to negotiate for more lenient terms.
Reactions and Implications
Reactions to the DOJ’s demands are mixed. While some support efforts to curtail Google’s dominance, others argue that these measures could unfairly benefit international competitors.
Moreover, the DOJ is pushing for greater transparency in Google’s advertising practices and seeking to prevent advertisers’ data from being used to train Google’s AI models.
If implemented, these proposals could lead to the emergence of a Chrome browser completely independent of Google, a scenario that would mark a significant shift in the tech landscape. However, the final decision hinges on the court’s ruling.
