In November 2023, a federal judge ruled that Google operates as a monopolist in the search engine market, prompting significant scrutiny from regulatory bodies.

The investigation into Google began in October 2023, focusing on potential breaches of antimonopoly laws in web search services, following similar actions taken by authorities in Europe and other major economies.

Google is accused of requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install Chrome and position it prominently on devices in exchange for access to the Google Play Store.

In response to the DoJ's concerns, Google proposed alternative remedies but plans to appeal the judge's ruling before a hearing set for April 2024.

Japan's competition watchdog, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC), is expected to find Google guilty of antitrust law violations regarding its search engine and Chrome browser.

The JFTC plans to issue a cease and desist order to Google, demanding an end to its monopolistic practices.

In response to the ruling, the U.S. Department of Justice has argued that Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, should divest its Chrome browser and be barred from re-entering the browser market for five years.

Following this ruling, the Department of Justice has called for Google to sell its Chrome browser to reduce its control over search access points.

Additionally, the DoJ has demanded that Google stop giving preferential treatment to Chrome on Android devices.

The DoJ argues that selling Chrome would enable better access for rival search engines and reduce Google's dominance.

Despite the ongoing investigations and scrutiny, Google did not respond to requests for comment, and the JFTC was also unavailable for comment at the time.

Google's Chrome browser is the most widely used web browser globally, playing a significant role in the company's business model by enabling effective ad targeting.