(CLO) After being found by a US court to have violated antitrust laws in the online search market, Google is facing a request from the US Department of Justice (DoJ) to force it to sell the Chrome browser.
In August, a US federal court, presided over by Judge Amit Mehta, ruled that Google had spent $26.3 billion to pay companies to make its search engine the default option on smartphones and web browsers, violating antitrust laws.
If the proposed forced sale of Chrome goes through, the buyers would have to pay at least $20 billion. Photo: Andre M. Chang/Zuma/IMAGO
According to the DoJ, Google's actions not only deprive its competitors of important distribution channels, but also hinder opportunities for innovation and competition in the market. Therefore, the DoJ proposed forcing Google to sell Chrome as a "restructuring" measure to restore healthy competition.
Chrome plays a core role in the Google ecosystem. Currently, more than 60% of users worldwide use Chrome to perform searches, while Google's search engine has nearly 90% market share.
In addition to keeping customers within its ecosystem (like Gmail, Google Drive, and AI services like Gemini), Chrome is also a key tool for Google to collect user data, from search behavior to favorite websites. This data helps the company optimize advertising, which is its main source of revenue.
In 2023, Alphabet — Google's parent company — will generate $230 billion from advertising, the bulk of its $307 billion in total revenue.
The ruling against Google is a major victory for antitrust activists in the US in years.
Ulrich Müller, of the non-profit Rebalance Now, supports splitting Chrome from Google because it could reduce the company's advertising power and promote competition based on quality of service. He also argues that it could open up opportunities for new business models.
However, Seebach cautioned that the legal process could be lengthy, and current browser or search engine technology could become obsolete before the ruling is implemented.
Google has said it will appeal the ruling, arguing that the request is an "overreach" by the US government and could harm consumers.
In addition to the Chrome sale, the Justice Department is also considering other measures related to artificial intelligence and Google’s Android operating system, which would represent one of the biggest changes to the technology industry in decades.
If successful, forcing Google to sell Chrome would set an important precedent for reining in the power of big tech companies, but the likelihood and practical impact of such a ruling remain big questions in a rapidly changing technology landscape.
Cao Phong (according to DW, CNN)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tai-sao-chinh-quyen-my-lai-muon-google-ban-trinh-duyet-chrome-post322375.html
Comment (0)