(19459006]Image Credit: Bloomberg/Contributor via Getty Images)
In August this year, US courts declared that Google was an illegal monopoly, but did not impose any penalties. The Department of Justice has set some ambitious goals. One of them would be for Google to have to sell Chrome. This drama is all about Google Search and how the company decided to pay Apple and other browser makers billions of dollars to become their default search engine. It’s the same deal as in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer antitrust lawsuit from 2001. Both companies are accused of anticompetitive conduct and face a possible breakup. Microsoft’s split never happened, as the government settled with Windows instead. But for the moment, the DOJ appears to be going after Google full-force.
The DOJ, in a 23-page document filed on Wednesday, recommended to courts that Google be forced to sell the Chrome browser and perhaps Android as well, if it didn’t adhere with restrictions that prevent Google from favouring its search tools inside the mobile OS. This move is a little surprising, since neither of the products are directly connected to Google’s main issue: paying companies to give Google priority in their respective ecosystems.
Why is the government pushing Google to sell Chrome? The government wants Google to sell Chrome. Why? The DOJ also wants the government to prevent Google from paying browser manufacturers (including Chrome’s new owners) in order to have Google as the default search engine. The DOJ restrictions will also prevent Google from prioritizing their search tools in Gemini and other platforms that it has access to. They’ll also require Google to provide data, such as ranking signals and search results, to other companies for “marginal costs” and to continue to do so over the next decade. The company must also allow sites to prevent their data being used for AI Overviews, without being penalized in the search ranking.
Google’s opinion on all of this is: What does Google think about all this?
Will Google sell Chrome Chrome? Walker is right to be concerned, but the trial of Google will have no immediate impact. DOJ proposal still under development. A revised version is planned for march, before court proceedings begin in April. Google has said it plans to file its proposals in the next month. Regardless of what the court decides, there is always the option for an appeal. Google may avoid the same fate as Microsoft did at the beginning of the new millennium. Although the DOJ proposal was harsher than anticipated, this is not uncommon in debate tactics to demand more than what you’re asking for. Expect to see further details next spring.
What will happen if Google decides to sell Chrome? Are you worried about the DOJ proposal that would force Google to change its product or sell Chrome? It’s difficult to tell at this time, but the DOJ demands include an oversight committee, which would likely help with the transition. Google may be predicting doom, but the immediate impact you will see is a greater choice for consumers, even if it comes at the expense of annoyance. Google’s products are less likely to flow together naturally, so you may see more popups when setting up your Pixel phone. On the other hand, it’s likely that you will be able adjust your defaults more easily without having to dig into settings as deeply as you do right now. It’s also possible that a Chrome sale will help to counteract Google’s dominant position in the market. However, a Googleless Chrome version could lose features such as native Google Lens, which would make it less valuable. In the same way, data of users could become less safe in other companies’ hands. Although Google isn’t perfect it’s not a bad record.
What’s next? The biggest issue surrounding Google’s case is the fact that the trial will be held under a newly elected administration. The Biden White House applauded the Courts for declaring Google an illegal Monopoly but President-elect Trump is not as clear on this issue. Trump, who has suggested in the past that his administration may seek to “make Google more fair” without “breaking up”, also filed the DOJ case against Google during Trump’s final months in office.
Will Google sell Chrome Chrome? Walker is right to be concerned, but the trial of Google will have no immediate impact. DOJ proposal still under development. A revised version is planned for march, before court proceedings begin in April. Google has said it plans to file its proposals in the next month. Regardless of what the court decides, there is always the option for an appeal. Google may avoid the same fate as Microsoft did at the beginning of the new millennium. Although the DOJ proposal was harsher than anticipated, this is not uncommon in debate tactics to demand more than what you’re asking for. Expect to see further details next spring.
What will happen if Google decides to sell Chrome? Are you worried about the DOJ proposal that would force Google to change its product or sell Chrome? It’s difficult to tell at this time, but the DOJ demands include an oversight committee, which would likely help with the transition. Google may be predicting doom, but the immediate impact you will see is a greater choice for consumers, even if it comes at the expense of annoyance. Google’s products are less likely to flow together naturally, so you may see more popups when setting up your Pixel phone. On the other hand, it’s likely that you will be able adjust your defaults more easily without having to dig into settings as deeply as you do right now. It’s also possible that a Chrome sale will help to counteract Google’s dominant position in the market. However, a Googleless Chrome version could lose features such as native Google Lens, which would make it less valuable. In the same way, data of users could become less safe in other companies’ hands. Although Google isn’t perfect it’s not a bad record.
What’s next? The biggest issue surrounding Google’s case is the fact that the trial will be held under a newly elected administration. The Biden White House applauded the Courts for declaring Google an illegal Monopoly but President-elect Trump is not as clear on this issue. Trump, who has suggested in the past that his administration may seek to “make Google more fair” without “breaking up”, also filed the DOJ case against Google during Trump’s final months in office.
What’s next? The biggest issue surrounding Google’s case is the fact that the trial will be held under a newly elected administration. The Biden White House applauded the Courts for declaring Google an illegal Monopoly but President-elect Trump is not as clear on this issue. Trump, who has suggested in the past that his administration may seek to “make Google more fair” without “breaking up”, also filed the DOJ case against Google during Trump’s final months in office.
Michelle Ehrhardt
Associate Tech Editor
Michelle Ehrhardt is Lifehacker’s Associate Tech Editor. Since 2014, she has written about technology and pop culture and edited for outlets such as Gizmodo. Michelle’s bio can be found at
