Google ordered to sell Chrome by US Department of Justice

Luke Meredith

Prosecutors from the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) have argued that Google must sell its Chrome web browser in order to end its monopoly on the internet search market.

Currently, Google is in control of around 90% of the entire search market online. The DoJ has told a judge that the company’s behaviour, including the creation and success of Chrome, has illegally prevented rivals in the industry from making a fair entry into the market.

Bloomberg suggests that Chrome could be worth up to $20 billion for Alphabet, Google’s parent company, should the judge concur with the DoJ’s demands.

There are several further demands being made that would, according to the DoJ, end Google’s monopoly on the market. These include banning Google from re-entering the browser market with a successor to Chrome for five years, ordering Google to sell its mobile operating system Android, preventing Google from investing in any of its rivals in the search industry along with new advertising technology or artificial intelligence (AI) products.

Google has said that it will appeal these suggestions. The company will also be able to present its own suggestions next month. The final trial is set to take place in April 2025, though the next US government’s new antitrust head may change the entire course of the case.

What would this mean for SEO?

If the DoJ’s suggestions for ending Google’s search monopoly are ordered, it is almost assured that the company would not be the powerhouse in the market that it currently is today. While it’s very unlikely that a competitor would threaten to overtake Google in its market share, these changes may require search engine optimisation (SEO) professionals to take other search engines more seriously when strategising for their clients.

At Engage Web, staying up to date on the latest news within the search industry is crucial for ensuring the best service for our SEO clients. If you want your website to rank highly on search engines like Google, speak to a member of our team today.

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Luke Meredith

Content Editor at Engage Web

At home in both the digital sector and the world of communications, Luke thrives on deadlines and has held roles in healthcare, retail and digital marketing, gaining a sound knowledge of a wide range of sectors. He’s a massive swot as well, holding a first-class degree in BA Communication and Media, and now uses his writing skills and keen editorial eye in his role as Content Editor here. Luke helps to oversee our clients’ content requirements, while also looking after a pool of freelance writers across three continents.

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Google ordered to sell Chrome by US Department of Justice