Is Google Being Forced To Sell The Chrome Browser Google has claimed that forcing it to sell its world-famous browser Chrome would harm consumers and businesses. The move comes as the US Justice Department plans to instruct a judge to recommend the move.
In August, Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google had a monopoly on online search. The judge is considering whether to impose a penalty or remedy.
The department has not commented on the matter, but Google has clearly opposed the proposal. “The department is pushing a hard-line agenda that goes beyond the legal issues in this case,” Google executive Lee-Ann Mulholland said in a statement.
Google is also expected to be ordered to explore new ways to use AI, the Android operating system and data. “This government intervention, when it is needed now, would harm consumers, developers and American technology leadership,” Mulholland added.
Similarly, Google’s search engine accounted for nearly 90 per cent of the global search engine market as of October. Google Search is set as the default engine on most smartphone browsers and Chrome.
In a ruling in August, Judge Mehta described the default search engine as Google’s “most valuable asset.” “Even if new competitors are qualified for the default position, they will only be able to compete if they are willing to share billions of dollars in revenue,” he said.
Google said the separation would make Chrome harder to secure. According to its latest quarterly report, Google’s revenue from its search and advertising business grew 10 per cent to $66 billion.
The company’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, said that the company’s AI search tool is used by millions of users. Google’s shares have been analyzed after the report on the proposed measures by the Justice Department was released.
