Google Defends Chrome Browser Amid Antitrust Trial

AFP/APP
New York: Google urged a US judge on Friday to reject calls to force the tech giant to spin off its Chrome browser, arguing that such a move would weaken competition rather than promote it.
The arguments came during the final day of a landmark antitrust trial before US District Court Judge Amit Mehta, who is considering remedies after last year’s ruling that found Google maintains an illegal monopoly over online search.
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has proposed ordering Google to divest Chrome and restrict its exclusive agreements with partners such as Apple and Samsung, warning that artificial intelligence (AI) advancements could further entrench Google’s dominance.
In court, Google attorney John Schmidtlein disputed claims that exclusivity deals prevented users from choosing alternatives. He highlighted that Verizon, which owned Yahoo’s search engine and was not bound by any deal with Google, still installed Chrome on smartphones.
“Of the 100 or so witnesses heard at trial, not one said ‘if I had more flexibility, I would have installed Bing,’” Schmidtlein told the judge.
DoJ attorney David Dahlquist countered, pointing to Apple’s repeated requests for more flexibility in choosing default browsers, which Google allegedly denied. Apple reportedly paid Google billions to keep Chrome as the default on iPhones.
Google warned that forcing a sale of Chrome, or banning default search agreements, would stifle innovation and harm smaller competitors.
Cato Institute technology policy expert Jennifer Huddleston agreed, saying such measures “would hobble innovation, hurt smaller players, and leave users with worse products.”
Schmidtlein also noted that over 80 percent of Chrome users are outside the US, suggesting a divestiture would have far-reaching global consequences.
The trial unfolded amid rising competition from AI-powered search alternatives like Microsoft’s Bing, ChatGPT, and Perplexity, which have started eroding Google’s market share.
Apple Vice President Eddy Cue testified that Google’s search traffic on Apple devices fell in April for the first time in over 20 years, with AI rivals gaining ground.
Judge Mehta questioned attorneys about the DoJ’s proposals to require Google to share certain data, with DoJ attorney Adam Severt emphasizing the goal is not to cripple Google but to ensure fair competition.
Google’s Schmidtlein argued that the data Google holds goes beyond search queries and includes proprietary algorithms developed over decades.
“The remedy asks us to be on par with all of your ingenuity, and, respectfully, your honor, that is not proportional to the conduct of this case,” he said.
The court is expected to issue a ruling on possible remedies in the coming months.