Google may have to part ways with its Chrome browser

The American government plans to ask a judge to force Google to sell its Chrome browser, according to the Bloomberg agency. Such a sanction against the technology giant, found guilty of anti-competitive practices in the management of its famous search engine, would be historic.

The Ministry of Justice also intends to require measures regarding new artificial intelligence tools (IA) generative and its Android mobile operating system, according to anonymous sources close to the matter cited Monday by the press agency.

Google reacted in a press release on Tuesday, arguing that the Department of Justice was putting forward a radical agenda that goes well beyond the legal issues in this case and which would harm consumers and businesses.

For the government to put its thumb on the scale in this way would harm consumers, developers, and America’s technology leadership just when it needs it most.

This summer, Google was found guilty of illegal practices to establish and maintain its monopoly in online search.

It was Washington federal judge Amit Mehta who made this decision. He could rule on the sentence in August 2025, after receiving the official request from authorities in November and hearing from both sides at a special hearing in April.

The possibility of demanding a Google split marks a profound shift by U.S. competition authorities, who have largely left the tech giants alone since their failure to break up Microsoft 20 years ago.

The ministry wants Google to divest itself of Chrome, the world’s most widely used Internet browser, because it provides a major access point to the search engine, undermining the chances of potential competitors.

According to the site StatCounterGoogle had, in September, 90% of the global online search market and even 94% on smartphones.

Other changes in sight?

Anti-competitive authorities should also propose that Google dissociate Android from its other products, notably the search engine and the Google Play mobile application store, according to the agency. Bloomberg.

The government also wants to act on the research results formulated by theIA generative, called the AI Overviewswhich directly answer Internet users’ questions without them having to click on links.

Many websites are complaining of a drop in traffic and Google’s rivals in online search believe that this new format gives them no chance of emerging.

The ten weeks of trial revealed the staggering sums paid by the Alphabet subsidiary to ensure the default installation of Google Searchparticularly on smartphones manufactured by Apple and Samsung.

The prosecutions were launched during the administration of Donald Trump and continued under the presidency of Joe Biden.

If the judge accepts the authorities’ proposals, they could reshape the online search market and the growing generative AI industry.

But the changes, if they happen, will likely take years, with Google planning to appeal.

Asked by Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Monday, the Department of Justice did not comment.

With information from Agence France-Presse and Reuters