DOJ Pushes for Google to Divest Chrome in Search Competition Case

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a proposal calling for Google to divest its Chrome web browser. The DOJ argues that Chrome, a critical entry point for internet browsing, has been instrumental in cementing Google’s dominance in search. The filing also leaves open the possibility of requiring Google to spin off its Android operating system, should the divestiture of Chrome not sufficiently address competition concerns.

This filing, submitted late Wednesday in the D.C. District Court, refines the DOJ’s previous proposals after Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling that Google held an illegal monopoly in search and search advertising. The DOJ is now presenting a series of measures it believes will dismantle Google’s monopoly. The centerpiece of this plan is the divestiture of Chrome, a move the government contends is necessary to break the company’s hold over the search market.

However, the DOJ’s proposal goes further than just Chrome, including restrictions on Google’s ability to enter agreements with third parties to make its search engine the default. The proposal also demands that Google provide rivals access to its search index at a marginal cost and share its search results, ranking signals, and U.S.-originated query data for ten years. Additionally, the DOJ is asking the court to mandate that Google allow websites to opt-out of its AI-generated search overviews without facing penalties in search rankings.

Google has firmly pushed back against the DOJ’s sweeping proposal. In a response published shortly after the filing, Kent Walker, Alphabet’s Chief Legal Officer, characterized the DOJ's demands as “wildly overbroad” and warned that they would harm American consumers and jeopardize the country’s global technological leadership. Walker argued that the proposal could undermine the privacy and security of users by forcing the sale of key products like Chrome and potentially Android, and even expose Americans’ personal search data to foreign entities. He also warned that the government's intervention could stifle innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence, where Google plays a leading role.

Further, Walker expressed concern that the proposal would result in government micromanagement of Google’s services, including imposing excessive controls over how search results are presented to users. For example, under the proposal, Google would be required to implement “choice screens” for users of its Pixel phones, an action that Walker claims would be overseen by a government-appointed "Technical Committee."

As this high-stakes case moves forward, both sides are preparing for the next phase, with a remedies trial set for April 2024. Google is expected to present its own proposals next month, as it seeks to defend its business model and challenge the DOJ’s far-reaching demands.

For now, the future of Google’s operations hangs in the balance, with the potential for major changes to the company’s structure and the broader tech industry.

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