Nov. 22 (Portaltic/EP) –
The United States Department of Justice has issued a proposed sentence in which formally asks Google to sell its Chrome web browserin order to restore competition in the online search market, which can also extend to the Android operating systemHowever, this decision would entail various consequences for end users, device manufacturers and developers.
This sentence is framed in the antitrust trial that the United States has maintained against Google since September of last year, in which the authorities accuse the Alphabet group company of harm competition by paying millions of dollars to be the default search engine on web and mobile browsers.
As a result, in August of this year a US federal court ruled that the company violates antitrust laws with its search engineafter verifying that it controls approximately the 90 percent of the Internet search market.
Now, the United States Department of Justice has formally raised the Google divisionrequesting that detach from the Chrome web browser and imposing some restrictions on Androidto stop favoring its own search engine on devices with this operating system. In the event that these impositions are not effective, the Department of Justice has indicated that they will also could require the sale of Android.
The intention to split Google was already raised months ago, as a possible solution to restore competition in the online search market. However, it is now that the sale of Chrome has been officially put on the table.
As determined in the sentencing proposalthis measure “will permanently stop Google control of this critical search hotspot and will allow rival search engines the ability to access the browser which for many users is a gateway to the Internet”.
In addition to the sale of Chrome and restrictions on Android, the organization has proposed cease “emerging competitive threats through acquisitions, minority investments or partnerships” for a period of ten years. This refers to agreements like the one it has had with Apple since 2002which allows it to be the default search engine for the products manufactured by the Cupertino firm.
POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF SEPARATION
Chrome is one of the most used web browsers globally, Therefore, its sale would directly impact the Internet experience, since, as media such as Engadget, More than 60 percent of web interactions begin with a search query and, most are done by searching for Google.
Also, Chrome It is also linked to other technology services as is the case of the operating system for your computers Chrome OSas well as its Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistant Gemini.
In this framework, technology has qualified in a statement on his blog that this sale would entail some consequences that would directly harm consumers. According to the president of Global Affairs and Legal Director of Google and Alphabet, Kent Walker, the proposal of the US Department of Justice “would destroy a number of Google products, beyond Search, that people love and find useful in their lives everyday”.
Specifically, Walker has warned that would “deliberately” hinder the ability of people to access Google Search. Following this line, he has pointed out that selling Chrome and potentially Android to an external company endangers the user security and privacyin addition to “undermine” the quality of their products and services on various devices.
This is because part of the conditions of this sale require share with national and foreign companies unknown innovations and results from Google. Including the personal search queries of users.
He has also indicated that this is a measure that would harm other health services. external companiesas is the case of Mozilla Firefoxwhich has businesses that depend on “charging Google for search placement.”
Internally, Walker has indicated that this sale would force them to reduce your investments in AI development, a technology that he has described as “the most important innovation” currently and “where Google plays a leading role.”
On top of all this, the Google Search experience and other technologies, would be relegated to the “micromanagement” of a Technical Committee from the US government, which, according to the technology company, would give it “enormous power” over the online experience.
Another effect of this possible separation is that Google should install two separate selection screens to access Google Search on, for example, a Pixel smartphone. Likewise, the design of these screens would have to be approved by the Technical Committee.
HOW IT WOULD AFFECT THE SALE OF ANDROID
Regarding the possible sale of Android, it would lead to a situation that would affect the majority of smartphone companies on a global level, since they are nourished by this operating system with some exceptions, such as devices with iOS (Apple) and HarmonyOS Next (Huawei).
For example, when selling to an external company, it could choose to make changes to the operating system to adapt it to your own services, as well as keep it as before or, even charge for its use to device manufacturers.
That is, any change in Android would later be reflected in the offer of mobile devices, with manufacturers who could choose to change operating systems or develop their ownas already happened with Huawei as a result of the US blockade. However, this not only concerns smartphone manufacturers, but also brands of tablets, ‘smartwatches’ or carsamong other products that use this ‘software’.
Another of the affected sectors would be the developers which, due to the majority use of Android, create the most of its applications based on this operating system. However, if conditions changed or other new environments emerged, this could translate into the development of fewer ‘apps’.
With all this, Google has ruled that the approach of the Department of Justice “would hurt American consumers, developers and small businesses“Therefore, they will present their own proposals on the matter “next month” and their broader case “next year.”
For his part, the Department of Justice will present a revised version of its sentencing proposal in early March 2025as reported by media such as The Verge.
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