Alphabet Inc.’s Google could be forced to divest its Chrome browser, the world’s most-used browser, amid ongoing antitrust actions from the U.S. Department of Justice. According to sources, the DoJ has been seeking a court order divesting Chrome as part of its attempts to break up what it perceives as Google’s monopoly in the internet search market and related advertising markets.
In documents filed last month, the DoJ said it was considering “structural remedies” that would have the effect of curbing Google’s power across a variety of products. Antitrust officials are set to propose the measures to a judge Wednesday, according to Bloomberg. As of October, Chrome controls almost 90% of the search engine market worldwide and 61% in the U.S., per StatCounter.
The case against Google began during the presidency of Donald Trump. In August, Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google runs an online search monopoly and what the possible remedies and penalties could be. Among the options that have been mooted since the ruling are the termination of exclusive agreements that Google has with major companies such as Apple to ensure it remains the default search engine on their devices.
The DoJ is likely to push most of these proposals forward, including the divestiture of Chrome. Additionally, there are also talks of putting data-licensing mandates on Google, according to Bloomberg.
If Chrome were to be sold, it could fetch between $15 billion and $20 billion in valuation based on its 3-plus billion monthly active users, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Mandeep Singh.
The “radical” proposal would make consumers and businesses in the U.S. worse off, ultimately undercutting American competitiveness in AI, Google said, citing claims of consumer harm and business interference. Google has repeatedly denied running a monopoly in online search. In response to the DoJ filing, Google said separating parts of its business, like Chrome or Android, would upset their business models and result in higher-priced devices that would weaken competition against Apple offerings.
Looking ahead, Google is reportedly preparing to appeal following U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta’s final ruling, expected by August 2025, with a chance to present its case in December.
