Google is facing significant challenges as the risk of having to sell its Chrome browser looms amid ongoing legal battles. A recent report from The Verge highlights that the company is set to enter a critical trial in Washington, D.C., which could determine the consequences of being classified as an illegal monopolist in the search market. Following a loss in a previous search monopoly case, and an adverse ruling in a recent ad-tech lawsuit, Google’s business structure is under scrutiny. This could result in unprecedented changes, including the possibility of divesting the Chrome browser.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) seeks substantial alterations to Google’s operations in response to these legal findings. Proposed measures could compel Google to sell the Chrome browser, share crucial search data with competitors, terminate exclusive agreements—such as its multi-billion-dollar deal with Apple to be its default search engine—and even require the company to disclose future investments in artificial intelligence to prevent the reestablishment of monopolistic practices.
As Google prepares to appeal any unfavorable outcomes, it must first address the judicial phase focused on remedy determination. In this process, Google finds itself in a challenging position since the judges involved have already identified legal violations on the company’s part, with their primary objective being to mitigate penalties.
In the ongoing ad tech case, the DOJ may also request that Google separate its key advertising businesses, DFP and AdX. Although a potential sale of Chrome would be a more dramatic move, alterations in Google’s ad business could have profound impacts on the internet economy and digital publishers, who are already feeling the effects of Google’s dominance.
This situation represents the most significant antitrust challenge to a U.S. technology company since the landmark Microsoft case 25 years ago. While Microsoft ultimately was not broken up and faced lighter penalties, that case opened doors for emerging competitors, including Google itself. Now, Google finds itself in a comparable scenario. The appeals process could extend for years, leaving the future of the Google empire more uncertain than ever.
