U.S. Department of Justice Formally Requests Google Divest Chrome Browser in Antitrust Case

The U.S. Department of Justice has officially asked a federal judge to force Google to sell its Chrome web browser, marking a significant escalation in the landmark antitrust case against the tech giant. In a court filing submitted late Wednesday, government prosecutors argued that the divestiture is necessary to end Google's monopoly on the search engine market. The proposal also includes measures to prevent Google from favoring its own services on the Android operating system and suggests a potential sale of the mobile platform if other remedies fail. Google has characterized the DOJ's demands as 'radical overreach,' warning that such actions would harm consumers, developers, and American technological leadership. Legal experts note that the case, which began under the previous administration, could face shifts in strategy as a new presidential administration takes office in January. A final ruling from U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta is expected by summer 2025.