The DOJ could force Google to sell Chrome and detach Android

[Daniel Sims]

Why it matters: The biggest antitrust case in decades might result in a corporate breakup that could fundamentally alter the web browsing and mobile software landscapes. Although the proceedings are far from settled, a report indicates that officials desire a major crackdown on Google.

Confidential sources have told Bloomberg that the Department of Justice will ask a judge to force Google to sell its Chrome browser and unbundle the Android mobile operating system from its device software packages. The search and advertising giant plans to fight the possible decision as next year's remedy hearings approach.

Following a lengthy trial, a US judge in August declared that the company illegally monopolized the search engine market by leveraging its dominant position and paying other tech companies billions to make Google the default search engine on numerous devices. Payments to companies like Apple, Samsung, and Mozilla, totaling over $20 billion annually, edged out smaller rivals like DuckDuckGo and Bing.

The case closely resembles the DOJ's ruling against Microsoft's web browser market dominance in the late 1990s. The department ultimately didn't break up Microsoft, but according to people familiar with this year's case, it might employ the nuclear option against Google.

Antitrust officials also considered forcing a selloff of Android, but will instead recommend a breakup of the mobile software bundle encompassing Android, Google, and the Google Play Store. Unsurprisingly, Google intends to appeal the August decision, claiming that a breakup would harm consumers and developers.

A harsh crackdown would deeply alter the tech world and Google's revenue model. The company controls 80 percent of the search engine market, which feeds its advertising business far more user data than any competitor. According to StatCounter, Google's Chrome browser is also easily the most popular, enjoying a roughly 60 percent market share. Together, the two allow the company to track users' habits across the web.

Finding a buyer for Chrome might prove difficult. The few tech entities that could likely afford the browser already face regulatory scrutiny.

Additionally, Google might be forced to grant websites additional protections from AI data scraping and sell its search engine data without restrictions. Access to the data might allow smaller search engine and AI companies to grow more quickly.

A two-week hearing in April 2025 will determine the required remedies with a final ruling scheduled for August.

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The DOJ could force Google to sell Chrome and detach Android

 

[VariableSpike]

At least the incoming administration (or to my knowledge at least, going by what's been said as an outsider) also doesn't like big tech, so we might see something positive come out of this, I'd say Android should be sold off as well, otherwise you get the chromium vs chrome problem where of course there is an open source version without Google's stuff, but everyone gets pushed to use the "real" Chrome or whatever they want to call it and the open soirce version still follows Google's whims, hence why chromium based stuff like Vivaldi lost manifest v2 for extensions anyway, because they just follow what Google does to Chromium, and the same will happen with Android, where Google will just amp up the payments to OEMs for them to use their special version, like they do with search, even though that's been marked as illegal, Google of course can claim its a different issue and stall it out in the courts for a couple of years
Probably should have them divest chrome to someone like the linux foundation in the chromium guise rather than selling it off, as I don't see many companies it could be sold to and not just loop back round to the anti trust problem

 

[NumberNine]

It warms my heart to see Google standing up to the government to protect their customers from the harm they'll inflict if they don't get their way.

 

[Art C]

All five of the biggest tech firms (FAAMG) have a tendency to abuse the rest of the industry. Hyper-divestiture would help everyone (including them, in the long run).

 

[trparky]

At least the incoming administration (or to my knowledge at least, going by what's been said as an outsider) also doesn't like big tech, so we might see something positive come out of this, I'd say Android should be sold off as well

For Google, Android is nothing more than an OS purposely built to suck up ever increasing amounts of personal data about you. Think about it, you carry the device with you all the time. They know where you eat, where you live, when you sleep, where you work, etc. This is the kind of data that should never be in the hands of a company that advertises. They are literally making money off of you!!!

So yes, Google and Android need to be split off.

As for Chrome, that needs to be split off as well. You can see that in how Google wants to kill off adblockers with Manifest V3. How this isn't seen as a conflict of interest by the various regulators around the world, I don't know. Suffice it say, Google needs to be forced to sell of Chrome as well.

 

[Che Cazzo]

At least the incoming administration (or to my knowledge at least, going by what's been said as an outsider) also doesn't like big tech, so we might see something positive come out of this, I'd say Android should be sold off as well, otherwise you get the chromium vs chrome problem where of course there is an open source version without Google's stuff, but everyone gets pushed to use the "real" Chrome or whatever they want to call it and the open soirce version still follows Google's whims, hence why chromium based stuff like Vivaldi lost manifest v2 for extensions anyway, because they just follow what Google does to Chromium, and the same will happen with Android, where Google will just amp up the payments to OEMs for them to use their special version, like they do with search, even though that's been marked as illegal, Google of course can claim its a different issue and stall it out in the courts for a couple of years
Probably should have them divest chrome to someone like the linux foundation in the chromium guise rather than selling it off, as I don't see many companies it could be sold to and not just loop back round to the anti trust problem

I am sorry, I thought or a second that you posted that that the incoming administration that was bought for $200 million by the owner of Twitter / X, and the same owner was busy campaigning for the same new administration's boss - and he was promised a top position in it for his money and his efforts...yeah, this same incoming administration ....doesn't like big tech!!

Wow!!

 

[VariableSpike]

I am sorry, I thought or a second that you posted that that the incoming administration that was bought for $200 million by the owner of Twitter / X, and the same owner was busy campaigning for the same new administration's boss - and he was promised a top position in it for his money and his efforts...yeah, this same incoming administration ....doesn't like big tech!!

Wow!!

There was literally comments about how suits the FTC has against Microsoft et al are likely to continue with the new administration, as both parties are in agreement that the companies need to be reined in, ofc there is the xitter leader now involved, but its not exactly like he is interested in protecting Google, Microsoft and so on, is he?

 

[ZedRM]

This is not how it'll go down. The Gov will make them separate the advertisement division as it's the larger chunk. Android needs to stay where it is.