A US federal judge has ruled that Google will not be forced to sell its Chrome browser or Android operating system, marking a major victory for the tech giant in a landmark antitrust case.
The decision spares Google from the most extreme remedy after being found guilty of maintaining an illegal online search monopoly. However, the company must share certain search data with qualified competitors to encourage competition and is barred from entering into or maintaining exclusive distribution contracts for services such as Chrome, Google Search, the Google Assistant, and Gemini.
Judge Amit Mehta said he accepted Google’s proposed remedies in part, emphasizing that the rise of generative AI had changed the scope of the case and that the court’s role was to prevent Google’s dominance in search from carrying over into the AI sector.
The ruling prevents Google from making exclusive deals requiring device makers to preload its apps in exchange for access to the Google Play Store. Still, analysts noted that many manufacturers are likely to continue using Google’s services due to their popularity.
While Google can continue paying partners, including Apple, to distribute its services, it will no longer be able to rely on exclusivity to maintain market dominance. Analysts see the outcome as a win for both Google and Apple, as it preserves their lucrative partnership and opens the door for potential AI collaborations.
The case highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of big tech, as other major companies also face antitrust challenges from the US government.
