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Google is not happy about the US Department of Justice's recommendation that Google be forced into selling Chrome.

Bloomberg reports that the US Department of Justice’s top antitrust officials are going to ask a judge for an order requiring the sale of Chrome. This comes after a major ruling that found Google had illegally stifled competition and retained its monopoly in online search and advertising.

Antitrust officials will ask federal Judge Amit Mehta, along with several US states who have joined the case to order Alphabet Inc. to sell off Chrome. Markets are already scrambling to figure out how much the browser is worth. The DOJ will also seek further measures in relation to Google's Android OS and AI technologies as well as data licensing (i.e. allowing advertisers and third parties to access Google's search engine data).

The court will make the final decision, but if the judge accepts the DOJ's recommendation, it would be the largest crackdown in history on a tech company. The judge could also decide that a sale isn't necessary if certain conditions are met. It's also important to consider who might buy it. Companies with the money, like Microsoft or Amazon, may find that a Chrome purchase brings more scrutiny than it is worth.

Chrome is the most popular browser in the world. According to web tracker Similarweb, its global market share is 64.61%. It is also fully integrated with Google's lucrative advertising business. It tracks users and personalises suggestions. It also directs users to other Google products like GSuite and Gemini. It is hard to overstate the importance of this to Google, and it's no surprise that Google will fight this to the death.

The DOJ continues to push a radical program that goes beyond the legal issues of this case, said Lee-Anne Mulholland. Google's vice-president for regulatory affairs. "The government's thumb on the scale would harm consumers, developers, and American technological leadership just when it is needed."

Google may want to give thanks for the battle that it is fighting. According to the same report, the DOJ has decided not to force it to spin-off Android. The DOJ will apparently suggest that Google separate Android from other products, such as the Google Play Store.

There are many twisting roads to take. Google can appeal Judge Mehta’s August ruling that Google violated antitrust laws. This is almost certain to happen. The judge has also scheduled an April 2025 hearing to hear Google's proposed remedies, and a final decision is penciled in for August 2025. I have a feeling that the timeline will not be as clear-cut as it seems.

The DOJ did not comment on the report.

Interesting news

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