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Photo = Yonhap news |
[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Jisun] The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is planning to request that the court order Google to sell its Chrome browser as part of efforts to address the company’s dominance in the search market, Bloomberg reported on November 18.
This move follows the DOJ’s victory over Google in an antitrust lawsuit concerning the search market earlier in August. Since then, the DOJ has been considering the sale of part of Google’s business to reduce its market power.
If Chrome is sold, it is expected to significantly impact Google, as the browser plays a crucial role in collecting user data for internet analytics and delivering personalized advertising. This functionality not only sustains Google's dominance in the search market but also in the advertising sector.
As of April, Google held a 90.9% share of the global search market, with most of this search traffic generated through Chrome. According to web traffic analysis firm StatCounter, Chrome holds a 66.7% share of the global browser market, commanding nearly two-thirds of the global market.
Chrome is also a key revenue source for Google, which generates massive ad revenues through its search service. In Q3, Google's total revenue reached $88.27 billion, with $65.85 billion of that coming from advertising. Projections for Q4 suggest that Google's annual ad revenue will surpass $250 billion (approximately KRW 348 trillion).
Reuters called this move one of the "most aggressive attempts" by the Biden administration to curb big tech monopolies. However, it remains uncertain whether the court will approve the DOJ’s request, given the rapid changes in the search market due to the rise of AI-based technologies like OpenAI, which could alter interpretations of Google's monopoly.
The election of Donald Trump as president could also influence the outcome. A second Trump administration is expected to be more business-friendly and less supportive of big tech regulation compared to the Biden administration.
The court is scheduled to begin hearings on the matter in April next year, with a final ruling expected by August.
AlphaBIZ Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
