United States: A US federal judge has ruled that Google will not have to sell its Chrome web browser but must share information with competitors and avoid exclusive deals, marking a significant step in the years-long battle over its dominance in online search.
District Judge Amit Mehta’s decision follows a trial that exposed Google’s extensive contracts with smartphone makers and browser companies to secure its search engine as the default option. While the US Department of Justice had pushed for a divestiture of Chrome, Judge Mehta concluded that a forced sell-off would be ‘a poor fit for this case.’
Instead, the ruling bars Google from entering into exclusive contracts covering Google Search, Chrome, Google Assistant, or its Gemini app. Manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, and Motorola will now be free to preload or promote alternative search engines, browsers, or AI assistants alongside Google’s offerings.
The court also ordered Google to share search data with rivals, addressing concerns about its long-held market dominance. However, Google will still be able to pay distributors for default placements, though such deals must now be renegotiated annually.
Alphabet shares surged more than 8 percent following the ruling, as investors welcomed the outcome. Analysts said the remedies were less severe than feared. Melissa Otto of S&P Global Visible Alpha stated that, “The ruling doesn’t seem to be as draconian as the market was expecting.”
Google hailed the decision as a victory, pointing to the rise of artificial intelligence as a sign of increasing competition. But rivals were less satisfied. DuckDuckGo founder Gabriel Weinberg argued the order failed to go far enough to curb Google’s ‘illegal behaviour,’ warning that consumers would continue to suffer from limited choice.
The Justice Department, which first filed charges in 2020, said it is reviewing whether the ruling sufficiently restores competition in the long-monopolised search market.
The decision marks only one chapter in Google’s legal battles. The tech giant faces another high-stakes trial over allegations that it maintains illegal monopolies in digital advertising technology.
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