The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has proposed forcing Google to spin off its Chrome browser and possibly its Android operating system. The aim is to break the company's market dominance in online search and strengthen competition. This is according to a late filing submitted on Wednesday.
The initiative follows a decision by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, who accused Google of building an illegal search monopoly through billion-dollar exclusive deals with companies like Apple and device manufacturers. Prosecutors claim Google abused this power to disadvantage rivals and control the market.
The proposed measures include the obligation to spin off Chrome and restrictions on how Google trains artificial intelligence (AI). Additionally, Google's search index and databases should be made accessible to competitors to promote competition.
Google rejected the proposals as "radical" and warned that they could damage products like Chrome and Android and hinder AI investments. In a statement, the company said the DoJ is pursuing an "interventionist agenda" that threatens America's technological leadership.
Google also emphasized that it is successful due to the quality of its products and not through anti-competitive behavior. The company has announced plans to appeal both the liability decision and possible sanctions.
If the proposal were implemented, Google would lose control of Chrome, the world's most widely used browser with almost two-thirds market share in the USA. Critics argue that other companies might not have the financial means to keep the browser secure and competitive, while Google provides it for free.
Android is also in focus: If behavioral measures such as the restriction of exclusive contracts are not sufficient, Google could be forced to spin off the operating system as well. This would significantly change the competition in the mobile operating systems market.
The lawsuit against Google is part of a broader antitrust offensive against Big Tech. Apple, Meta, and Amazon are also in the sights of US regulators, and the Federal Trade Commission plans to investigate Microsoft's cloud business.
Judge Mehta is expected to rule on the measures against Google by mid-2025. However, it remains unclear whether the new Trump administration will continue the Biden administration's hard line against technology companies or adopt a more relaxed stance.
