The US federal government officially considers Google a monopoly, and the Department of Justice has proposed a radical remedy: forcing Google to sell or divest the Chrome browser. However, the judge, Amit Mehta, has yet to decide how Google will be punished for its potential violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Although prosecutors have suggested breaking off Chrome, it remains uncertain whether the court will adopt this course of action.
Despite recent speculation, it is important to recognize that Google is likely to leverage its substantial resources to contest any legal decisions regarding Chrome. Assuming, for argument’s sake, that Google is required to sell Chrome and its foundational Chromium project, the next question arises: who could potentially purchase it? The valuation of Chrome, which is available for free on both desktop and mobile platforms, is complex.
While a conservative estimate might place its worth around $25 billion, it is undeniable that its value is influenced by its status as the most popular browser globally. Several companies might consider acquiring Chrome. OpenAI, while currently operating at a loss and potentially taking on significant debt, could afford the investment, particularly to increase its user base for ChatGPT and gather valuable data.
On the other hand, Perplexity, a much younger company valued at under $10 billion, would struggle to secure funding for such a purchase. Then there’s Yahoo, a name once synonymous with internet dominance, now a shadow of its former self after various ownership changes. While acquiring Chrome could help restore its significance, its current valuation and assets are insufficient for such an expensive acquisition.
Lastly, Microsoft appears to be the most viable candidate for Chrome’s acquisition. With a long-standing desire to reclaim browser supremacy, integrating Chrome as the default Windows browser could be advantageous. However, Microsoft’s history of regulatory scrutiny regarding monopolies may deter them from pursuing this venture, especially under an administration keen on tackling monopolistic practices.