Google search suspected of monopoly: Chrome browser will be ordered to sell

According to reports, the U.S. Department of Justice and state prosecutors are conducting an in-depth investigation into whether Google has violated antitrust regulations, and are exploring whether to take tough measures to require Google to divest its Chrome browser business and part of its advertising business.

This move marks the most shocking regulatory action against a technology giant since the U.S. government attempted to split Microsoft 20 years ago, and will undoubtedly pose an unprecedented major challenge to Google.

Data from StatCounter, an authoritative network traffic monitoring agency, shows that Chrome browser currently has a market share of about 61% in the United States, highlighting its dominant position in the industry.

As soon as the news came out, it immediately triggered a widespread and strong response. Google’s stock price fell 1.8% in after-hours trading to $172.16.

Lee-Anne Mulholland, vice president of regulatory affairs at Google, expressed strong concern about this, pointing out that the Department of Justice “is continuing to advance a radical agenda that is clearly far beyond the legal scope of this case.” Mulholland warned, “If the government intervenes in this way, it will seriously damage the interests of consumers, the rights of developers, and the United States’ global technological leadership, and all this happens at the most critical moment.”