If it were up to the U.S. Department of Justice, Google would have to sell Chrome. What exactly is going on?
Google is one of the largest tech companies in the world and operates in many different areas. It has its own smartphones, Chromecasts, YouTube and a good number of software services, including Chrome. Soon it may have to say goodbye to the latter.
The U.S. Justice Department wants Alphabet, Google’s parent company, to sell Chrome. It thinks the company is too powerful.
United States wants Google to sell Chrome
According to the US Department of Justice, Google is too powerful and is abusing that position. For example, Chrome would favor its own search engine. In addition, the browser sends data to the company itself, which then uses it to improve other services.
The ministry argues that this gives Google a monopoly position, which hinders competition and innovation. It therefore wants the courts to force the company to sell Chrome. That way, other players would have more opportunities, and artificial intelligence and search engines could develop better.
(Image: Unsplash/Google)
What the company should do according to the U.S. Department of Justice
According to Bloomberg, other measures are being considered. For example, Android should be decoupled from Search and Google Play, although the company does not have to sell these parts.
In addition, it should share more information with advertisers and give them the choice of where ads are displayed.
The company should also take action against AI. Websites should be given the option of not being included in Gemini, Google’s AI model. In addition, the proposals prohibit the company from entering into exclusive contracts.
Implications for Google
This is not the first time Google has been involved in a competition case. In early August, a U.S. court already ruled that the company had an illegal monopoly.
However, the company disagrees with the Justice Department. The company calls the plans “a radical agenda beyond the legal issues in this case.”
For Google, it would be a big drain if it has to sell Chrome. The browser is an important engine of the company, as it ensures optimal cooperation between different products.
In addition, Chrome plays a major role in the advertising ecosystem. Through the browser, Google gets a better picture of users, allowing it to show more targeted ads.
