Will Google agree to sell its Chrome browser as US govt raises monopoly concerns?

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has officially planned to ask a judge to force Google to sell the world's most popular web browser, Chrome, to take down the monopoly. 

Last month, the US justice department filed court papers, saying it was considering enforcing “structural remedies” to prevent Google from using some of its products.

According to a report by Bloomberg, the DOJ will propose the measure to a judge on Wednesday (Nov 20). 

In August, Judge Amit Mehta ruled Google operates an online search monopoly and has been considering what penalties he could impose.

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Furthermore, Google will also be asked to establish new measures around its artificial intelligence, Android operating system, and use of data.

'Pushing radical agenda'

In response to the plans, Google criticised the DOJ’s move. "The DOJ continues to push a radical agenda that goes far beyond the legal issues in this case," said Google executive Lee-Anne Mulholland in a statement.

"The government putting its thumb on the scale in these ways would harm consumers, developers and American technological leadership at precisely the moment it is most needed,” Mulholland added.

Google's Chrome is the most used browser worldwide, with its web traffic tracker Similarweb placing its global market share at 64.61 per cent last month (October).

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In a ruling in August, Judge Mehta said that the default search engine was "extremely valuable real estate" for Google.

"Even if a new entrant were positioned from a quality standpoint to bid for the default when an agreement expires, such a firm could compete only if it were prepared to pay partners upwards of billions of dollars in revenue share," he added.

Last month, the DOJ also stated that it would be considering seeking a break-up of Google.

Potential remedies "that would prevent Google from using products such as Chrome, Play [its app store], and Android to advantage Google search and Google search-related products" were among its considerations, the DOJ had said at the time.

Moreover, in October, it also said that Google's conduct had resulted in "pernicious harms" to users and that the importance of restoring competition to a market that was "indispensable" could not be overstated. 

(With inputs from agencies)