Google is about to be forced to say goodbye to the Chrome web browser?

VOV.VN - The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed that Google will have to split up its businesses, including selling the Chrome web browser.

The demand that Google sell Chrome is part of a new court filing to support a US federal court ruling that Google illegally exploited its monopoly position in the search engine market.

In the document, the DOJ said selling Chrome would “permanently end Google’s control over this important search access tool,” while also creating opportunities for competitors to integrate with the browser, giving users more choices when accessing the internet.

The US government also maintained a proposed ban under former US President Joe Biden on setting Google's search engine as the default on Apple devices and others for which Google would pay. The ban also affects the Mozilla Firefox browser.

Meanwhile, Google’s bid to sell stakes in AI startups was canceled after Anthropic announced it needed funding to stay afloat. Instead of banning AI investments outright, the U.S. government is requiring Google to notify federal and state authorities about its investments in the field.

Google tries to keep Chrome

Google is expected to file its own proposal for alternative remedies. In an earlier lawsuit filed in December 2024, the company argued that the DOJ’s initial measures were too broad and went beyond the court’s ruling, which only affected search engine partnership agreements.

One alternative Google has proposed is to retain the ability to pay partners to install its search engine, but also allow them to partner with other search services. For example, Apple could set different default search engines on iPhones and iPads, while browser developers could change their default search engine every 12 months.

The DOJ’s stance could signal that the Trump administration will continue its tough antitrust policies against Big Tech companies, despite the support he received from the tech giants during his campaign, according to the Washington Post. The final decision on the case will be made by Judge Amit Mehta, who previously ruled that Google is a monopoly. A meeting to consider proposals from both sides is expected to take place next April.