Google faces pressure from US Justice Department to sell Chrome browser

Google’s flagship web browser, Chrome, may not remain under its ownership for much longer. With US courts weighing whether Google must divest the product as part of an antitrust crackdown, potential buyers are already stepping forward with multi-billion-dollar offers.

The Department of Justice has argued that Google has maintained illegal monopolies not only in internet search, but also in digital advertising markets. In one of its strongest remedies yet, regulators have asked the court to consider forcing Google to sell off Chrome, which dominates the global browser market. A ruling on the proposal is expected before the end of the month.

For Google and its parent company Alphabet, losing Chrome would strike at the core of their business. The browser is both a distribution engine for Google Search and a valuable source of data about user behavior. Analysts at Barclays warned the forced sale could trigger a “black swan” scenario, wiping out 15 percent to 25 percent of the company’s stock value.

Google has pushed back, insisting that such a divestiture would harm consumers. In a blog post, the company warned that passing Chrome into other hands could make it “obsolete” and “expose billions of people to cyber-attacks.”

Still, the line of suitors is growing.

Search.com, an AI-driven search chat platform under digital marketing firm Public Good, has already placed a USD 35 billion bid, backed by JP Morgan and private equity investors. Public Good President Melissa Anderson described Chrome as “a really just phenomenal way to scale user adoption,” and pledged to use AI responsibly by keeping search free for users.

Another challenger, Perplexity, offered USD 34.5 billion, an ambitious move for a startup with a valuation far below that figure. Backed by investors, the company stated that it would continue to support Chromium, the open-source foundation of Chrome, while maintaining Google as the default search engine, chosen by the user.

OpenAI, meanwhile, has publicly expressed interest. During testimony in Google’s antitrust trial, Nick Turley of ChatGPT acknowledged that the company would “as would many other parties” pursue Chrome if regulators force Google’s hand. CEO Sam Altman also signaled his willingness, saying, “If Chrome is really going to sell, we should take a look at it.”

Even legacy players are circling. Yahoo, owned by Apollo Global Management, has described Chrome as “arguably the most important strategic player on the web.” Yahoo Search chief Brian Provost told Bloomberg that the company would be eager to explore an acquisition with Apollo’s backing.