US Government Moves to Break Up Google, Seeks Sale of Chrome Browser

The U.S. government has officially proposed breaking up Google, asking a federal judge to force the company to sell its Chrome web browser. This comes after a court ruling earlier this year that found Google violated antitrust laws by dominating the search market.

The Justice Department, along with several states, is pushing for penalties that would not only target Google’s search monopoly but also its growing role in artificial intelligence. If the judge approves the request, it could have major consequences for Google and its users.

The government argues that Google’s practices have stopped consumers from having fair choices and that the company has benefited unfairly. They want the court to stop Google’s exclusive deals with companies like Apple and Samsung, which make Google the default search engine on their devices. They also want Google to allow other search engines to use its results for the next decade and to give websites the choice to block Google’s AI tools from using their data.

Microsoft’s Bing and AI competitors like OpenAI are challenging Google’s dominance, and the Justice Department claims Google has used unfair tactics to stop competition. Google is accused of violating antitrust laws and could face serious changes if the court rules in favor of the government.