Google countered a US government call to sell its Chrome browser as part of a significant antitrust crackdown. Instead, the tech giant proposed a court order to restrict its ability to require favourable treatment of its software for licensing popular applications like Chrome, Play, or Gemini.
In November, the US Department of Justice urged a judge to dismantle parts of Google’s business model, suggesting the sale of the widely used Chrome browser and barring Google from being the default search engine on smartphones.
This call comes as the next stage in a landmark antitrust trial where US District Court Judge Amit Mehta previously ruled that Google operates as a monopoly.
Google’s proposed order aims to prevent it from leveraging the desirability of its applications to compel mobile device manufacturers to pre-install its search software or designate it as the default option.
The filing states, “Nothing in this Final Judgment shall otherwise prohibit Google from providing consideration to a mobile device manufacturer or wireless carrier with respect to any Google product or service…”
Regardless of Judge Mehta’s decision, Google is expected to appeal, potentially extending the legal process for years. The outcome may ultimately rest with the US Supreme Court, especially with the impending arrival of President-elect Donald Trump, whose administration could reshape the Justice Department’s antitrust division.
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The trial scrutinized Google’s agreements with smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, which involved substantial payments to secure its search engine as the default on various devices. The judge concluded that such arrangements granted Google unparalleled access to user data, solidifying its position as a dominant global search platform.
