The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has stated that Google must sell its Chrome browser and Android operating system to enable competition in the market.
The DOJ, along with several state antitrust enforcers, filed the recommendations with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, arguing that Google’s business strategies have limited innovation and unfairly excluded competitors from market opportunities.
The agency also noted it will establish a court-appointed technical committee to oversee compliance with the proposed measures.
Key Proposals to Break Monopoly
Among the remedies outlined, the DOJ called for Google to end exclusive agreements with companies such as Apple, where it pays billions annually to secure its search engine as the default on devices.
Added to this, Google would be barred from using its Android operating system to strengthen its search dominance. Should other measures fail, the agency suggested Google sell Android entirely.
Another recommendation involves mandating Google to license its search data to rivals at minimal costs and share user data, excluding information restricted by privacy regulations. The DOJ claims such measures would lower barriers for competitors and reinvigorate the search market.
The filing further proposes that Google be prohibited from entering into exclusionary deals or acquiring search and advertising technology competitors. Websites would also have the option to opt out of contributing their data for Google’s artificial intelligence tools.
Google’s Response
Google, however, said the proposals are excessive and detrimental. In a statement, Alphabet’s Chief Legal Officer, Kent Walker, described the measures as “radical overreach” that would harm users, developers, and small businesses while undermining the country’s technological edge.
Walker argued that forcing the company to divest Chrome or Android could compromise user security and privacy. He also noted that such measures could negatively impact companies like Mozilla, which rely on partnerships with Google to sustain their services.
Google maintained that its products, including Chrome and Android, are built on open-source frameworks, making them accessible to developers worldwide. The tech giant plans to file its counter-proposals in December.
If the court adopts the DOJ’s recommendations, a five-member technical committee would oversee their implementation. This committee would have broad powers, including accessing Google’s internal documents and software code, to ensure compliance.
The DOJ’s filing claims that Google has created a “perpetual feedback loop” by leveraging its dominant platforms to attract more users, gather extensive data, and increase advertising revenue. Breaking this cycle, prosecutors argue, is critical to restoring competition in the market.
The trial to determine the final remedies is scheduled for April 2025.
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