US DOJ may ask judge to push Alphabet into selling Chrome browser, limit Google’s search dominance

In a bold antitrust move, the United States is expected to push for a monumental shake-up of Google’s business empire.

According to a report by Agence France-Presse, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) will ask a judge to force Google’s parent company, Alphabet, to offload its popular Chrome browser and sell it. The demand is part of a broader effort to rein in the tech giant’s dominance in the digital market.

The Justice Department is reportedly gearing up for a major court showdown. The action could be one of the most significant antitrust cases in recent history, marking a radical shift in how American regulators handle tech monopolies.

Serious trouble for Google

The case against Google heated up back in October when officials warned of the need for dramatic changes in the company’s practices. The DOJ suggested that even breaking up Google might be on the table, as the company had been deemed to hold an illegal monopoly over the online search market.

The government’s legal filing hinted at potential “structural” remedies, which could include splitting off some of Google’s most powerful assets — like the Chrome browser or the Android operating system.

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This kind of aggressive regulatory action would be a major turning point. The last time the government seriously tried to break up a tech behemoth was over 20 years ago with Microsoft, and since then, the tech world has largely enjoyed a hands-off approach from regulators. At that time, Google brushed off these ideas, calling them overly extreme.

Industry pushback and defence

Industry experts haven’t been quiet about their concerns over the DOJ’s aggressive stance. Adam Kovacevich, who leads the industry trade group Chamber of Progress, reportedly argued that the government’s intentions were unrealistic and didn’t meet standard legal requirements. He suggested that more narrowly focused solutions would be more appropriate and effective.

The legal drama follows Google being officially labelled a monopoly in August by US District Court Judge Amit Mehta. He found that the company’s secretive deals with smartphone manufacturers, like Apple, had given it an unbeatable edge.

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By paying handsomely to make Google the default search engine across browsers and devices, the company had locked in its market dominance, making it nearly impossible for competitors to catch up.

What’s next for Google?

Now, all eyes are on the potential remedies. The government has hinted at measures that could level the playing field, such as preventing Google from leveraging search data to outmanoeuvre its rivals. Another idea floating around involves separating the Android operating system from Google’s other services, ensuring that these tools aren’t bundled together in ways that stifle competition.

Even if Judge Mehta sides with the DOJ, Google is not expected to back down easily. An appeal seems inevitable, likely setting off years of further legal wrangling that could even reach the US Supreme Court. The stakes are enormous, not just for Google but for the entire tech industry, as the outcome could redefine how digital giants are allowed to operate in the United States.