Renewed calls for Google to sell Chrome have reignited demands for the company to also divest Android. An executive at Murena, a French smartphone startup, said today that breaking up the businesses is the only way to end Googles cycle of domination.The appeal follows a Friday court filing from the US Department of Justice (DOJ). The filing reaffirmed a proposal for Google to divest its Chrome browser and sell it to a competitor, in a bid to break up the tech giants alleged search engine monopoly.Through its sheer size and unrestricted power, Google has robbed consumers and businesses of a fundamental promise owed to the public their right to choose among competing services, the DOJ said in the filing.The accusation echoes common complaints about Chromes dominance.Check It OutIn February, Chrome made up two thirds of the global browser market. Next up was Safari with 17.99%, Edge (5.33%), Firefox (2.62%), and Samsung Internet (2.3%). Opera, Europes largest homegrown browser, made up just 2.09%.The DOJs plan aims to level the playing field. But Rik Viergever, COO at Murena, a French company building privacy-first smartphones, believes the new proposals alone arent enough.As a data privacy advocate, I welcome the DOJs decision forcing Google to sell Chrome, however this should only be the start, he said. I want to see Google sell the Android operating system.The government has left this possibility open, but is first calling for Google to change the business practices of Android. If these measures fail to curb Googles market dominance, the DOJ may push for divestment from the operating system.Viergever wants the courts to do more to ease Googles stranglehold on consumers and competitors.Google is only able to offer Android free of charge to users because it profits off them in so many other ways and markets, he said. This makes it almost impossible for other providers in the operating system market to compete and so the cycle of domination continues.Viergevers stance aligns with Murenas mission. The companys main products are deGoogled smartphones billed as privacy-centric disruptors to the Apple-Google mobile duopoly. The devices use /e/OS, a privacy-oriented, open-source alternative to Android. Murena built the software to escape the shackles of Googles operating system.Viergever argues that selling Chrome would lead to better products.Its time to open the market up to innovation and competition so users can benefit from a competitive industry in which businesses compete with products that benefit consumers, rather than a big company like Google holding all the power, he said. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with