Google May Be Forced to Sell Its Chrome Browser: Why and Who Wants to Buy It?

In a significant legal development, Google may soon be compelled to sell its popular web browser, Chrome, the most widely used browser in the world. This possibility arises from a U.S. court ruling that found the company guilty of violating antitrust laws. A final decision from the judge is expected by the end of this month, raising questions about the browser's future and its fate.

Why Might Google Be Forced to Sell?

The case stems from two U.S. court rulings: the first, issued last year, convicted Google of monopolizing the online search market, while the second, issued in April, confirmed its monopoly over the digital advertising markets. The U.S. Department of Justice believes that forcing Google to divest its Chrome browser is an effective solution to curb its monopolistic practices.

Chrome is a vital tool for Google. It is not just a free browser but a primary channel for distributing its other services and provides valuable insights into user habits. According to analysts at Barclays Bank, a forced sale of Chrome could be a major blow to Google and its parent company, Alphabet, potentially leading to a 15% to 25% drop in its stock price.

For its part, Google denies all allegations and warns that separating the browser could render it "unusable" and expose billions of users to "cyber-attacks."

Who Wants to Buy Chrome?

Despite the final verdict not yet being issued, several companies have already expressed interest in purchasing Chrome if it is put up for sale. Four companies, in particular, stand out:

• Search.com: This AI-powered search platform has made a bid of $35 billion to acquire Chrome. The company plans to offer its search engine for free, aiming to significantly increase its user base.

• Perplexity: An AI-powered search startup, it has offered to buy Chrome for $34.5 billion. The company intends to continue supporting the open-source "Chromium" project, with Google remaining the default search engine, which users can later change.

• OpenAI: Both the head of its ChatGPT division and the company's CEO, Sam Altman, have expressed interest in acquiring Chrome. Although OpenAI's size is still small compared to Google's, its interest highlights its ambition to expand beyond its chatbot.

• Yahoo: Google's traditional rival, Yahoo, has also expressed interest in making a bid for Chrome, with the backing of its parent company, Apollo Global Management.