Chrome Must Be Sold: DOJ Challenges Google in Antitrust Case

The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly planning to request a federal judge to order Google to sell its Chrome web browser in an antitrust case. This action would aim to break up Google’s control over the browser market and potentially level the playing field for competitors.

In August 2024, federal judge Amit Mehta ruled against Google’s search monopoly. “Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly,” Judge Mehta wrote in his 286-page ruling.

This latest action by the DOJ marks the most recent development in its ongoing antitrust case against Google. This comes less than a year after the tech giant reached a $700 million settlement in a separate lawsuit, which required app developers to use its payment system on the Google Play Store.

Additionally, the DOJ’s request extends beyond the Chrome browser to include Google’s Android operating system and its activities in artificial intelligence, aiming to curb the company’s influence across these critical markets, Bloomberg reports.

In October 2020, the DOJ and 11 state attorneys general filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Google. The suit aimed to stop the company from using anticompetitive and exclusionary practices to maintain monopolies in the search and search advertising markets, citing harm to competition.

According to the complaint, Google employed anticompetitive practices that hurt competitors and consumers, limiting innovation and reducing opportunities for new companies to compete.

Consequences of Search Engine Monopoly

A Google Chrome monopoly can have significant implications for competition, innovation, and consumer choice. A primary concern is biased search results. A dominant search engine can prioritize its own products and services, limiting visibility for competitors and reducing consumer access to diverse sources of information.

Advertising costs are also affected. A monopoly allows the dominant player to set higher prices for search ads, which can strain businesses, especially smaller ones, and increase costs that may ultimately be passed on to consumers.

Another main concern is data privacy. The monopolist can collect and leverage vast amounts of user data, raising concerns about surveillance and the potential misuse of personal information.

In Google’s case, DOJ officials also plan to request Mehta to require the company to license the search results and data from its Chrome browser. Officials also reportedly plan to ask the court to give websites more control over preventing their content from being scraped by Google’s artificial intelligence tools.

Antitrust Laws Combat Monopoly

Antitrust laws play a crucial role in preventing monopolistic practices in the tech industry, particularly in the search engine market. To fight these issues, antitrust enforcement aims to break up monopolistic behavior by enforcing rules that promote fair market competition. This includes actions such as requiring the divestiture of certain assets or restructuring business practices that harm competitors.

The Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) is the cornerstone of U.S. antitrust law and prohibits monopolistic practices and restraints of trade. Section 2 of the Sherman Act makes it illegal for any company to “monopolize, or attempt to monopolize” a market.

Michaela has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.

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