DOJ still wants Google to part with its Chrome browser as part of antitrust case
Google will have to part with its dominant Chrome browser if the U.S. Department of Justice has its way.
The divestiture of Google Chrome is among remedies sought by the Justice Department's antitrust division in a proposal filed Friday, signed by acting assistant attorney general Omeed Assefi, all part of a suit initiated in 2020.
The Justice Department has argued Google used the Chrome browser to establish a monopoly in online search and advertising. The tech giant also paid third parties to use Chrome as its default search engine, argued the Justice Department and more than 45 states, which brought the suit along with the agency.
"Google's conduct presents genuine danger to freedom in the marketplace and to robust competition in our economy," the plaintiffs said in the Friday filing.
This filing and a one filed by Google, also on Friday, precede an expected hearing next month with a ruling by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta to come in August, Bloomberg has reported.
The judge has already declared "Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly," in an opinion filed in August 2024.
DOGE stimulus checks: What happened to them? How the idea originated and where things stand now
Google's distribution agreements – such as paying Apple and Samsung billions each year to make Chrome the default search engine on smartphones and tablets – have allowed it to gain monopoly power in search and general search text ads, Mehta wrote in his August 2024 opinion. Those payments have "anticompetitive effects," he wrote. "That conduct has allowed Google to earn monopoly profits."
Mehta noted that in 2021, Google paid a total of $26.3 billion to Apple, Samsung and other companies such as AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile to ensure Google's search engine as the default for consumers. "Google has unlawfully used the distribution agreements to thwart competition and maintain its monopoly in the market for general search services and in various online advertising markets," Mehta wrote.
"Google's dominance eventually attracted the attention of antitrust enforcers – the U.S. Department of Justice and nearly every state's Attorney General," Mehta wrote.
If forced to sell Google Chrome, the price tag could approach $20 billion, Bloomberg has reported. But it would be a major blow to the tech giant.
In its proposal, Google says it can comply with Mehta's decision without divesting Chrome and instead by changing its licensing agreements with companies such as Apple to remove exclusive conditions on Chrome, Google Search and other applications.
Lee-Anne Mulholland, vice president of regulatory affairs for Google and its parent company, Alphabet, characterized the Justice Department proposal in December as going "far beyond what the Court's decision is actually about – our agreements with partners to distribute search," she wrote in a blog post.
"But the bigger problem is that DOJ's proposal would harm American consumers and undermine America's global technology leadership at a critical juncture – such as by requiring us to share people's private search queries with foreign and domestic rivals, and restricting our ability to innovate and improve our products," she wrote.
The Justice Department did drop a recommendation that Google also divest its investments in artificial intelligence, opting to require Google notify officials before any future AI investments.
The antitrust suit began during President Donald Trump's first term, as part of his pledge to take on Big Tech. It was the biggest antitrust case against a tech giant since the Justice Department sued Microsoft nearly two decades ago. That case resulted in a settlement.
The case against Google continued during the Biden administration, but now the Trump-run Justice Department is carrying the case forward.
While Google is expected to appeal the judge's final decision, the Justice Department may not want to achieve every remedy included in its final proposal said. What it's given the court may be part of a 'maximalist opening position that they can then negotiate from," Paul Swanson, a litigation partner who focuses on technology and antitrust at Holland & Hart LLP in Denver, Colorado, told Wired.
'The one through-line here is that this administration wants to be perceived as being tough on tech, but also not slow the growth of America's tech industries,' he told Wired. 'So they may signal more action than what they ultimately want.'
Contributing: Jessica Guynn and Jonathan Limehouse.
Follow Mike Snider on Threads, Bluesky and X: mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider.
What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Google should divest Chrome browser in antitrust case, DOJ says
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Tom's Guide
9 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
iOS 26 is here — how to download the developer beta
Apple's not wasting any time getting the newly unveiled iOS 26 on to people's phones. Immediately after previewing the upcoming software update today (June 9) at WWDC 2025, Apple released an iOS 26 developer beta. And you don't even have to be a developer to download it. iOS 26 introduces a new Liquid Glass design to the iPhone, the same interface overhaul coming to Apple's other software platforms this year. But there are other changes to familiar apps, including the Phone, Messages, Camera and Maps app, among others. In addition, iOS 26 will see the launch of an Apple Games app for managing your mobile gaming in one location. If you can't wait to see iOS 26 in action for yourself, we'll walk you through the steps of downloading the developer beta. That said, as we'll discuss below, you may want to wait for the iOS 26 public beta, which is set to arrive in July. The full iOS 26 release will come to iPhones in the fall, likely around the same time that the upcoming iPhone 17 lineup debuts. Here's what you need to know about the iOS 26 developer beta. While Apple intends its developer betas to be used by developers for updating their own software to run on the new operating system, a change in policy a few years ago means that anyone with an Apple ID can download developer betas like the one for iOS 26. You'll also have to enroll in Apple's developer program, which has a free tier. To enroll, go to the enrollment page on Apple's developer website and select "Start Your Enrollment." You'll be prompted to sign in with an Apple ID — use the same Apple ID associated with the iPhone where you plan to install the beta. You'll also have to be enrolled in Apple's beta program. Go to the Apple beta program website on your iPhone and select Sign Up. On the next page select Enroll Your iOS device then tap Open Beta Updates. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. You'll jump to a screen in the Settings app where you'll be prompted to turn on beta updates. This makes it possible for Apple's software betas to be available for download on your phone. Before you install the iOS 26 developer beta, make sure you have a phone that supports the new software. The same iPhones that use the current iOS 18 also support iOS 26 — with three notable exceptions. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max may run iOS 18 just fine, but they won't be able to run iOS 26. That's understandable as the phones did first ship in 2018, and that's at the outer edge of Apple's support window. Even though the iOS 26 developer beta will run on the iPhone 11 or later, you'll still need a phone with at least an A17 Bionic chipset to take advantage of any Apple Intelligence features in the new software. That means you need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 including the iPhone 16e. Once you've enrolled in the developer program and backed up your iPhone, it's time to get that developer beta on your device. In the Settings app on the phone you wish to update, select General and then on the ensuing screen, tap Software Update. On the Software Update screen, select Beta Updates. From the list on the next screen, select iOS 26 Developer Beta; then, hit the Back button. The iOS 26 Beta will now appear as a downloadable option. Tap Update Now and follow the onscreen instructions. To paraphrase Jeff Goldblum from the first "Jurassic Park" movie, don't be so preoccupied that you can download the iOS 26 developer beta to not consider whether you should download it. Beta software is exactly that — it's unfinished and unproven. There could be bugs in it, and some of the apps you rely on regularly may not function properly, especially in early betas. For that reason, I always advise people to not install beta software on any device they depend on for their daily use. Instead, use a backup iPhone if you have one lying around. And if you don't, maybe consider waiting a month until the public beta arrives, as that version of iOS 26 figures to be more stable.


The Verge
10 minutes ago
- The Verge
The biggest changes coming to your iPhone with iOS 26
Apple just announced the next major software update for iPhones: iOS 26 (a jump from what, until recently, was expected to be called iOS 19), and it's packed with a whole bunch of new features for your phone. The biggest change is a new design, but there are lots of smaller improvements and additions as well that could make a difference in how you use your iPhone every day. Here's a bit more detail on what you can expect from iOS 26 when it releases for everyone this fall. If you want to try it early, Apple has already launched a developer beta, and it will offer a public beta sometime in July. A refreshed design across the OS Apple has a new design language called 'Liquid Glass' that it's being introduced across all of the company's devices, not just the iPhone. It's inspired by the visionOS software used with Apple's Vision Pro headset, and it features a lot of translucency that Apple says 'behaves like glass in the real world.' On-screen elements now use 'real-time rendering' that lets them react to movement with highlights and color shifts. It seems like changes from Liquid Glass will touch just about every part of the operating system, including apps, buttons, sliders, the Control Center, and your homescreen. Tab bars will also change because of Liquid Glass, shrinking and expanding as you scroll up and down. Messages is getting better for group chats In Messages, iOS 26 is adding a lot of updates that could significantly improve group chats. You'll be able to customize the background of a chat to give it more personality. To help make group decisions or get an opinion on something, you can create polls. And, at long last, Apple is adding typing indicators to group chats, which should make them feel more lively. Apple is taking some cues from Google by adding a call screening feature and a 'Hold Assist' feature that can wait on a call for you. The company is also adding a new unified layout option that combines Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails all into one view. Live Translation can translate calls in real time Apple is adding an Apple Intelligence-powered feature that can translate text on your screen and translate speech back and forth in the middle of a phone call. The company is building the feature into Messages, FaceTime, and the Phone app, and Apple says its models for Live Translation run entirely on your device for privacy. Some small Apple Intelligence improvements Even though we're still waiting for Apple to announce when it will actually release its delayed improvements to Siri, iOS 26 will include some new Apple Intelligence-powered features. Visual Intelligence will let you do searches about and take action on things you see on your screen. With Genmoji, you'll be able to combine two emoji into one. And Shortcuts will be able to use Apple Intelligence models to improve your workflows. The new Games app is for everything about your games Apple's new Games app will provide a centralized hub for everything about your games on your iPhone. The Home tab shows things like updates and events in your games. The Apple Arcade tab lets you browse the company's catalog of games on the service. The Library tab shows all of the App Store games you've ever downloaded. And the Play Together tab lets you see what your friends are up to.


Gizmodo
10 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
Is This Really Apple's Big Plan to Make Gaming Stick?
I've been writing about Apple's newfound gaming ambitions for years now, but I'm still waiting for the company to come to grips with what today's gamer actually wants. My halting enthusiasm is often tempered by what the company regularly shows off at both its private and public events. As if to put a pin on that point, Apple shared the first look at its all-new Games app at WWDC25. It's a games launcher, achievement tracker, and game chat for contacts in one. The tech giant's flaccid attempt to mark Apple as a go-to arena for gaming will be pre-installed on most Apple devices when the iOS 26 and macOS 26 updates arrive later this year, but I don't need to wait until then to say this isn't what Apple needs to stake a claim on either console or PC mainstays. The Apple Games app combines the company's previous Game Center and Apple Arcade subscription into one place. The app should offer news tidbits about upcoming and current titles on iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Vision Pro. If that isn't exciting enough, the app will offer achievement-like badges for completing certain in-game tasks or challenges. Users will also be able to communicate with friends who play the same games or check out leaderboards for score-based titles. The iPhone remains one of the most popular devices for playing games the world over, though few would call it a device built for the rigors of today's gaming environment beyond running Honkai: Star Rail, Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, and—after a five-year absence—Fortnite. A good mobile controller helps ease a few pain points, but nothing beats a device dedicated exclusively to gaming. Apple has promoted cross-platform games on iPhone, including recent hits in the Resident Evil series, but the Mac is the one platform where you expect the iPhone maker to try and pin down gaming. Instead, WWDC25 was a showcase for just how little Apple understands the gaming scene. The Apple Games app on Mac includes everything it does on iPhone, though with more access to games like Civilization VII and Assassin's Creed Shadows. The update is also supposed to include a Game Overlay, accessible without needing to leave your session. Compared to most overlays, including the Xbox Game Bar on Windows, the Mac's version appears barebones. It grants access to the sound, brightness, and Bluetooth settings for adjusting or changing out a controller. There's no option for recording gameplay at native resolution. Apple's overlay doesn't even grant an option to see frame rates or latency. Apple introduced Game Mode in 2023 to limit background tasks and potentially increase in-game performance, but the Mac still lacks what players have come to expect from a gaming platform. The dearth of gaming-specific features would look slim on a gaming console, let alone a device that's most often compared to PC. Without a frame rate counter that players can easily access, they won't know if they're getting the optimal experience from the game they're playing. Apple could have looked at Nintendo and offered easy ways to talk to and stream game content to each other over a Discord-like interface. You can see your friends on your contacts and chat with them over FaceTime, though Apple failed to showcase if this feature creates an on-screen window where you can watch your friends' mugs and still pay attention to what's happening on-screen. Despite the new overlay, this first iteration of Apple's gaming app seems mostly geared to smartphones. The Mac version may be able to incorporate games purchased outside of Apple's first-party work suite, such as Steam, though we haven't. We don't yet know if Apple will help it work with various emulator apps that were made available on iPhones last year, though we doubt Apple wants to step a single inch into the legal minefield of game emulation. Macs are far better for gaming than they have been previously. Thanks to updates to Apple's Metal graphics API and improving graphics capabilities on the M-series chips, I'm regularly surprised by performance on Mac. The most recent M4 MacBook Air was capable of playing Baldur's Gate III and Resident Evil 4 on medium settings with stable frame rates—something that's rare to see with lightweight laptops. The Mac mini with M4 Pro chip was a surprise powerhouse that could handle some more-demanding titles. Apple has also shown Gizmodo how its M3 Ultra chip on the latest Mac Studio could run the demanding Cyberpunk 2077 on high settings with ray tracing—all with a system that lacked a discrete GPU for high-end, though we have yet to try it in person. Apple has been working behind the scenes to engender more support for its own ARM-based chips, but Windows still has it beat in terms of software support by many, many miles. Apple said more games other than Cyberpunk, including EVE Frontier, Architect: Land of Exiles, and Cronos: The New Dawn are making their way to Mac, eventually. It's a drop in the bucket. Promising I'll be able to play InZOI, a game that could best be described as The Sims without a personality, isn't enough to make me pick up a MacBook next time I'm ready to find some game that will help me relax after a full day of covering Apple's latest software updates.