What Could Happen if Google is Forced to Sell Chrome

U.S. antitrust officials are suggesting a big change, they want Google to sell its Chrome browser. This suggestion is part of a plan to reduce Google’s big influence in the market. The Department of Justice has already presented this idea to U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta, who will decide what actions to take next year.

Effects on Google

Experts think that selling Chrome could be a big blow to Google. Dan Ives from Wedbush Securities said it would be a “huge gut punch” for the company. Google makes money by showing ads and promoting services like Google Maps through its search engine. If Google loses Chrome, it would also lose a lot of valuable data that helps improve its services. Beth Egan, a professor at Syracuse University, believes that while this could change Google’s business, the company is strong and could find ways to adjust.

How Much Could Chrome Sell For?

It’s hard to say exactly how much Chrome is worth, but some think it could be at least $15 billion because it’s used by over three billion people worldwide. To give an idea, another browser called Opera was sold for $600 million in 2016, but it had far fewer users.

Who Might Buy Chrome?

Finding a buyer for Chrome could be tough. Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf, a senior analyst at Emarketer, thinks that only a few companies could afford such a purchase, and they might already be under antitrust investigation themselves. She suggests that American AI companies might be interested, but this could also lead to new antitrust concerns.

What Does This Mean for Chrome Users? 

If Chrome is sold, as long as the new owner keeps updating it and keeping it user friendly, most people would probably continue using it. The Justice Department thinks people use Chrome because it comes pre-installed on many devices, but experts say that people also choose it for its convenience and reliability.