Google is being investigated for violating antitrust laws, claiming that Google is excluding competitors by monopolizing user data and search ads. However, there are reports that the US Department of Justice and the prosecution, which is conducting an investigation into Google, are considering ordering Google to sell the web browser Chrome.
Google has a strong dominance in the digital advertising market worth over $160 billion. Accordingly, it is being investigated for violation of antitrust laws along with Amazon, Facebook, and Apple. In a Democrat-led report released by the US House of Representatives Judicial Council in October 2020, Google noted that Google is using its online search capabilities and extensive user data from web browsers and other services to strengthen its dominance in the advertising market.
Reportedly, an anonymous whistleblower said the U.S. Department of Justice and prosecutors are discussing ways to curb Google’s monopoly in the market, and as one of these measures, they are talking about the sale of some businesses owned by Google. It is said that a plan to sell the web browser Chrome has emerged as a review of the business to be asked for opinions from competitors or other companies and ordered to be sold.
Chrome, released in 2008, is now the web browser with the largest market share in the United States. It is pointed out that Chrome also plays an important role in the Google advertising business, and criticism has also been raised for Google’s use of Chrome user web records to support the advertising business.
In response to the accusations, Google said it would retire third-party cookie support within two years of January 2020. Google claims that this will further enhance privacy. While the abolition of third-party cookie support leads to stronger user privacy protection, there are voices of concern that many website business models established by web advertising will be compromised and alternative solutions to cookies will be spread.
A report by the House Judicial Council pointed out that Chrome has a high market share, so that Google can effectively set industry standards, and that the Chrome market share is structured to strengthen Google’s dominance. In order to solve this problem, the US Department of Justice and the prosecution are considering ordering Google to sell Chrome. It is also said that the sale of some of the advertising business owned by Google is being discussed.
In addition to the large-scale option of selling Chrome’s advertising business, there are also discussions about a somewhat more fluent option that limits how Google uses data obtained from Chrome to support other services. Related information can be found here .