Google chrome news: The tech world could soon witness a bombshell decision: Google may be forced to sell the most used browser of the world, that is, Chrome. The US Justice Department is pressing hard over antitrust concerns, and according to reports, a federal judge’s ruling could come any day. If ordered to divest Chrome, Google may be forced to sell its Chrome browser used by billions, a move that could radically reshape the digital landscape. Here’s all you need to know about the case.
Reports cited by Bloomberg suggest that Chrome could be valued at a staggering $20 billion if it goes up for sale. The browser, central to Google’s dominance in search and advertising, has been a critical tool for the tech giant, seamlessly integrating with its other services and data-collection practices. But as antitrust pressure mounts, the forced sale would signal a new era of regulation aimed at breaking Big Tech’s grip on internet access.
Google to sell Chrome browser?
The US Department of Justice will ask a judge to force Alphabet’s Google to sell off its Chrome browser, Bloomberg News reported on Monday (November 18), citing people familiar with the plans. The DOJ will ask the judge, who ruled in August that Google illegally monopolized the search market, to require measures related to artificial intelligence and its Android smartphone operating system, the report said. Google and the DOJ did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
The move would be one of the most aggressive attempts by the Biden administration to curb what it alleges are Big Tech monopolies.
Google maintains that its search engine has won users with its quality, adding that it faces robust competition from Amazon AMZN.O and other sites and that users can choose other search engines as their default. The government has the option to decide whether a Chrome sale is necessary at a later date if some of the other aspects of the remedy create a more competitive market, the Bloomberg report said.
(With inputs from agencies)
