US DOJ Plans to Push Google to Sell Chrome, According to Reports

Core Points - The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is preparing to request a judge to consider forcing Alphabet's Google to divest its Chrome browser as part of an antitrust crackdown [1][2] - This move follows a previous DOJ filing that outlined a framework for restructuring Google, which includes breaking up the company due to its illegal monopoly over search [2] - The DOJ is expected to file a court request that could lead to the divestiture of either the Chrome browser or the Android operating system if Google does not limit how it ties its products to its search engine [3] - The DOJ is also seeking to end Google's practice of paying billions annually to partners like Apple to make its search engine the default [3] - Judge Amit Mehta previously ruled that Google had illegally monopolized the search market, a decision that Google plans to appeal [4][5] - The DOJ may also impose data licensing requirements related to Google's artificial intelligence and Android operating system [4] Company Impact - Alphabet's shares experienced a decline of 0.6% in premarket trading, although they have risen by over 25% year-to-date [6] - Google's vice president of regulatory affairs criticized the DOJ's actions, claiming they could harm consumers and American technological leadership [5]