The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is planning severe measures against Google, which it has accused of anticompetitive practices for several months. To dismantle Google's search empire, the DOJ wants to force it to sell certain divisions.
Google is number 1 in search… but also number 1 in online advertising, number 1 in mobile operating systems, number 1 in web browsers, number 1 in web services and number 1 in many others things. An unparalleled position of strength in the digital market which has led the American justice system to question its practices. In August 2024, a US judge found Google guilty of anti-competitive practices that aim to favor its own ecosystem.
What will be the consequences of this decision? The shadow of dismantling looms over Google, which could see several of its divisions forcibly sold to other companies to rebalance the market. In a 35-page document sent to judges on November 20, the DOJ requests the sale of the Chrome browser. He also suggests selling other assets, like Android.
The United States no longer wants to see Google's search engine everywhere
“Google must completely transfer the Chrome browser to a buyer approved by the plaintiffs, subject to conditions validated by the court”we can read in the DOJ's request to justice. The United States also indicates that Google will not have the right to create a new browser without court approval, which will not allow it to replace Chrome with another application.
Why sell Chrome? Because the browser favors the Google search engine and Google services, often with exclusivity clauses making it impossible for competitors to emerge. Google will have to, if the judges approve it, commit to never carrying out similar practices again, in addition to the sale of Chrome, if it does not wish to be even more condemned. American justice also requires that Google's search index be accessible to its competitors, to encourage the emergence of new services. Google's exclusives with its competitors, such as Apple, will be prohibited in particular.
In the event that everything goes as the DOJ requests, Google would be subject to strict rules for 10 years, unless the American justice system finds by then that competition had been restored.
Android, the judges' next target?
And Android in all this? The mobile operating system is a variable for now.
“If Google chooses to retain control of Android but fails to comply with the requirements of this section as they apply to Android, or if compliance or enforcement of this final judgment proves impractical to administer or ineffective, the plaintiffs can ask the Court to order the divestiture of Android » writes the DOJ.
In other words: if Google does not open up to competition, then it will also lose Android. But, unlike Chrome, the sale is not in demand today. Google will have five years to prove that it has changed its operations, before the court rules on the fate of Android.
Can Google still avoid all this?
Next step for Google: wait for the judges' decision in April, which could trigger the sale of Chrome and the start of many changes. Until then, the company can hope that the return of Donald Trump to the White House will benefit it, even if the Republican is not against the dismantling. Google is one of the largest Democratic donors, which particularly irritates the president-elect.
