Google Chrome Chief Testifies Only Google Can Run Browser in Antitrust Case

During a US antitrust trial, Google's Chrome chief Parisa Tabriz testified that only Google is capable of supporting Chrome's current features due to the browser's deep integration with Google's infrastructure and ecosystem. She argued that separating Chrome from Google would be an unprecedented and technically challenging task, as core functions like safe browsing and password alerts rely on shared systems. The Department of Justice is pressing Google to divest Chrome and share its search data with competitors, as well as to stop paying for default search placements, including those related to AI products like Gemini. While some experts believe a Chrome sell-off is technically feasible, Tabriz contends that Chrome's close ties to Google's engineering and resources make such a move highly disruptive. The case follows a ruling that Google had unlawfully monopolized the search market, putting Chrome's future under intense scrutiny. Chrome currently dominates the global browser market with a 66% share, and Google has contributed the vast majority of code to the open-source Chromium project.