Justice Department urges Google to sell Chrome to break monopoly

The Justice Department proposes breaking Google's monopoly by selling Chrome and sharing search data with rivals.

The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) has called for drastic measures to dismantle Google’s alleged monopoly in online search and advertising markets. Prosecutors have urged a federal court to force Alphabet’s Google to sell its Chrome browser, share search data with competitors, and adopt reforms to restore competition. These proposals, filed Wednesday night, aim to regulate Google’s operations for a decade under oversight from the Washington federal court, which earlier ruled the company maintained an illegal monopoly.

“Google’s unlawful behavior has deprived rivals not only of critical distribution channels but also distribution partners who could otherwise enable entry into these markets by competitors in new and innovative ways,” the DoJ stated in its filing. The department also seeks to bar Google from re-entering the browser market for five years and potentially require it to sell its Android operating system if competition is not restored.

Additionally, the DoJ, joined by state attorneys general, wants to end exclusive agreements where Google pays billions annually to vendors like Apple to make its search engine the default on devices. Prosecutors have also proposed prohibiting Google from acquiring or investing in rivals in search, query-based AI, or advertising technology.

Google has dismissed the proposals as “radical,” arguing they would harm consumers, businesses, and American AI competitiveness. The company has pledged to appeal. The case, overseen by Judge Amit Mehta, will move to trial in April 2025, though the incoming administration of president-elect Donald Trump could alter its direction.