Google’s Chrome browser is the quiet powerbroker of the internet. Used by 66 per cent of all web users, and 3.45 billion people daily, it decides who sees what.
But it’s also been a global hoover for data and the keystone of the arch for Google’s monopolistic and illegal advertising business for more than 17 years.
Now Google’s been ruled a three-times monopoly, the Department of Justice is demanding that Chrome is passed to a new owner.
The $260 billion question then is who will become the new custodian in a post-Google-break-up world.
A judge is due to decide in August, which is just two months away, so it’s timely to explore who the runners and riders are.
After all, the winner will control two thirds of all the web’s traffic.
Can it be a consortium of publishers? Should it be? What will it take? What will it cost? And what can be learned from similar big break-ups in the past?
That’s what we’re talking about today. I’m joined by my usual co-host
, former CEO of Bauer Media and ex-MD of The Times in London, and guest host , CEO of leading WordPress agency XWP, ex-News Corp technology leader for 23 years.
Thank you to everyone who tuned into this discussion live. We do it every week. Download the Substack app, and you’ll get an alert when we are on again.
See you there :)
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