The DOJ Wants Google To Sell Chrome: When Might It Happen?

Google being forced to divest Chrome could be one punishment out of many. In its 23-page document, the DOJ also presented other potential remedies that could make Google:

• Divest from Android – If Google doesn’t change its behaviour, the DOJ may also get Google to sell Android too. Another key source of revenue, many of Google’s services, like the Play Store and YouTube, are pre-installed on Android devices.
• Stop exclusionary third party agreements – Notice how Google is the default search engine on operating systems like Apple and Mozilla? This is all down to the monetary partnerships Google has established with these companies. If the proposals go through, Google may be prevented from creating similar agreements with other third-parties.
• Syndicate search results for 10 years – Over the years, Google has acquired immense amounts of data from its users. To stop the company from using this data unfairly, the DOJ wants Google to give its rivals access to its search index.

The legal process will be prolonged in the coming months, since Google is set to file a response this December. Additionally, Judge Amit Mehta, the official overseeing the case, will come to a final conclusion on what actions Google must take in August 2025.

When the August trial takes place, the legal process will be carried out under the new Trump administration – which could impact the outcome of the trial. This is similar to what we’ve seen with cases involving other tech giants, with Trump’s presidency predicted to influence whether there will be a TikTok ban in the US or not.

However, Trump’s administration is unlikely to stop Google from being punished. The upcoming president is known for his personal grievances held towards the company, a feeling that he recently expressed in October’s moderated Bloomberg interview. Even if the DOJ does soften the punishment, Google’s search dominance is likely to take a blow at the final ruling.

With Google’s Chrome browser having over 60% of the search engine market share, what could happen if Google is forced to sell Chrome? An initial impact could be a rocky transition process. Chrome is seamlessly integrated with other Google services, like Google Docs and Gmail, so this cohesion may be temporarily disrupted and impact the user experience.

Additionally, Google uses key information from its Chrome browser to improve its services. This is most obvious when it comes to Google Ads, its service providing users with personalized ads based on their browser history. If a new company purchases the browser, it’s still up in the air about how this data might be used, potentially spurring on some issues surrounding privacy too.

However, all we can do now is speculate. We’ll be keeping a close eye on this case, and you’ll find any new developments from our newsfeed.