chrome bloomberg
Google may be forced to sell its Chrome browser to break its monopoly on the Internet market. Photo: Bloomberg

Bloomberg financial news agency quoted a source as saying that antitrust officials of the US Department of Justice have decided to ask Judge Amit Mehta - who ruled that Google had an illegal monopoly in the search market in August - to order Google to sell the Chrome browser.

The department also recommended that Judge Mehta impose data licensing requirements. If the judge grants the recommendation, it would be a game-changer in reshaping the online search market and the booming AI industry.

It also marks the most aggressive effort by the US government to rein in a tech giant since Washington failed to break up Microsoft two decades ago.

Owning the world’s most popular web browser is key to Google’s advertising business. The company can track activity from logged-in users and use that data to market more effectively, generating huge revenue.

Google also uses Chrome to lead users to its AI product – Gemini – and let it follow them around the web.

This would harm consumers, developers, and American technology leadership at a time when it is most needed, said Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google's vice president of legal affairs.

The Chrome browser controls about 61% of the market in the US, according to web traffic analytics service StatCounter.

Analyst Mandeep Singh said that if Google were to sell Chrome, it would be difficult to find a potential buyer. Those with the resources and desire to own Chrome – such as Amazon – are also facing antitrust charges.

Antitrust officials have withdrawn a more serious option that could force Google to sell Android, Bloomberg reported.

(According to Bloomberg)