Forcing Google To Sell Chrome and Android Won’t Make its Search Engine Less Popular
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is trying to force Google to sell Chrome after a federal judge ruled that the tech giant had monopolized the search market. Making Google divest itself from Chrome and Android won’t significantly reduce Google’s share of the market for general search services, it will just harm consumers.
The DOJ’s antitrust crusade against the tech giant began in October 2020 when, invoking Section 2 of the Sherman Act, it argued that Google had abused its monopoly power to “require preinstallation and prominent placement of Google’s apps,” among other claims of exclusionary conduct. Judge Amit P. Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in favor of the DOJ in August, finding Google guilty of monopolizing the general search engine (GSE) market.
To end Google’s monopoly over the GSE market, the DOJ recommended divestiture from Chrome, “which has ‘fortified [Google’s] dominance,'” and Android, “which would prevent Google from using Android to exclude rival search providers.”
Ryan Young, senior economist at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, tells Reason that the DOJ’s narrow market definition doesn’t consider Reddit, ChatGPT, and other GSE alternatives, which “have become popular, and in some areas outperform Google.”
Even accepting the DOJ’s definition of the GSE market, the claim that Chrome is responsible for Google’s dominance of the market is highly dubious. Google made up 89 percent of the U.S. search engine market despite Chrome making up only 57 percent of the U.S. browser market as of October 2024. That means at least 74 percent of non-Chrome users search with Google, even assuming 100 percent of Chrome users sear
Article from Reason.com
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.
