The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering pushing for significant measures against Google following its declaration as a monopoly in the search engine market. Among the proposals, officials want the court to compel Google to sell its Chrome browser, describing it as a "key access point" through which many users engage with the search engine, according to Bloomberg sources.

Additionally, the DOJ plans to address other areas of Google's operations, including its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives and the Android operating system. For Android, the proposed actions could involve separating the smartphone operating system from other Google products, such as Search and Google Play. There are also discussions around requiring Google to provide advertisers with greater transparency and control over ad placements.

DOJ Shifts Away from Drastic Measures

Despite the breadth of these considerations, antitrust officials have reportedly stepped back from pursuing more extreme measures, such as forcing Google to sell Android entirely. According to Bloomberg, some specifics of the proposed actions are still subject to change.

The DOJ declined to comment on these developments, while Google released a statement criticizing the department's approach. The company described the DOJ's actions as promoting "a radical agenda far beyond the legal issues of this case," warning that such measures would harm users, developers, and U.S. technological leadership.

In August 2024, a U.S. court officially recognized Google as a monopoly in the search engine market. By October, the DOJ began exploring options to restructure the company, ranging from implementing stricter controls on its business practices to forcing the sale of certain divisions.

Hearings on the case are scheduled for April 2025, with a final court decision expected by August 2025.