The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has proposed a dramatic move to curb Google’s dominance in online search by recommending the sale of its Chrome browser. The request, submitted to U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta on Wednesday, aims to address what the DOJ describes as Google’s monopoly in the digital space.
This recommendation, part of an ongoing antitrust case, has the potential to reshape Google’s business model significantly. “This would be a huge gut punch to Google,” said Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities. Google’s free search services are closely tied to its ad-targeting business, which relies heavily on user data collected through Chrome.
Since its launch in 2008, Chrome has become the world’s dominant web browser, with over three billion users globally. It outpaces rivals like Microsoft’s Edge and Apple’s Safari by a considerable margin. Selling Chrome, experts say, would strip Google of a crucial source of data that powers its algorithms and services like Maps, further altering its competitive edge.
Beth Egan, a professor of advertising at Syracuse University, noted the potential impact on Google’s operations but expressed confidence in the tech giant’s resilience. “I don’t think divesting the browser is going to kill Google as a company,” Egan said. However, she cautioned that such a move could ultimately inconvenience users, a point Google has highlighted in its defense.
Analysts estimate Chrome could fetch at least $15 billion, although the lack of precedent makes its valuation uncertain. For context, Opera Software sold its browser to a Chinese investment group in 2016 for $600 million, despite having only 350 million users at the time.
The pool of potential buyers for Chrome may be limited. Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf, a senior analyst at Emarketer, speculated that any buyer large enough to afford Chrome would likely face antitrust scrutiny themselves. She suggested U.S.-based artificial intelligence firms could be contenders, but such acquisitions might still spark regulatory concerns.
Elon Musk’s AI ventures, backed by his considerable wealth, have also been floated as potential buyers. However, given Musk’s ties to incoming President Donald Trump, the political dynamics could play a role in shaping the outcome.
Judge Mehta is expected to rule on remedies for Google’s alleged monopolistic practices next year, but many analysts are skeptical the court will fully endorse the DOJ’s proposals. CFRA analyst Angelo Zino called the breakup measures “extreme and unlikely to be imposed.”
President-elect Trump has previously indicated opposition to dismantling Google, citing national interests. While he has accused the company of bias against conservatives, Trump has also argued that breaking up Google would weaken its global standing, stating, “China is afraid of Google.”
As the case unfolds, its resolution could mark a pivotal moment in the tech industry, influencing how regulators approach digital monopolies in the future.
