US regulators are pushing for a federal court to split Google, aiming to dismantle its dominance through the Chrome browser. This move follows a court ruling that acknowledged Google's monopolistic practices over the past decade.
The Department of Justice proposes the sale of Chrome to end Google's control over this critical gateway to the internet, thereby leveling the playing field for competing search engines.
"Selling Chrome will halt Google's grip on this essential access point and allow rival search engines to reach users through a browser that serves as many people's gateway to the web," the DOJ lawyers emphasized in their filing.
In addition to the Chrome sale, the DOJ is also targeting a multi-billion dollar partnership that ensures Google is the default search engine on devices like the iPhone. They argue against Google's preferential treatment of its services, including YouTube and its new AI platform, Gemini.
Regulators highlight that these measures could threaten a business generating over $300 billion annually, calling for a correction of unequal market conditions. However, Google contends that such actions are "radical" and could undermine US technological leadership while jeopardizing user privacy.