Court Ruling on Google: Chrome Stays, But New Rules Apply
A U.S. federal judge has decided that Google can retain its Chrome browser and Android operating system, but it must share data with competitors, according to BBC.
This ruling by Judge Amit Mehta comes after a lengthy legal battle regarding Google's dominance in the search engine market. The case revolved around the company's status as the default search engine on its products like Android and Chrome, as well as on devices from other manufacturers, including Apple.
The U.S. Department of Justice had sought to force Google to sell Chrome, but the court ruled that the company can keep it as long as it does not enter into exclusive contracts and shares search data with competitors.
Google suggested less dramatic measures, such as limiting revenue-sharing agreements with companies like Apple that make Google the default search engine.
The company hailed the court's decision as a victory, asserting that it reflects the changes brought about by the rise of artificial intelligence.
“Today's ruling recognizes how much the industry has evolved due to AI, providing people with many more ways to find information. It confirms what we've been saying since the start of this process in 2020: competition is fierce, and users can easily choose services they prefer,” Google stated.
Judge Mehta previously acknowledged that Google employed unfair methods to establish its monopoly but this time noted that a complete sale of Chrome would be an “inappropriate remedy.”
“Today's ruling agrees with the need to restore competition in a search market that has long been monopolized, and now we are weighing options to assess whether the court's decision is sufficiently effective,” wrote Deputy Attorney General Abigail Slater on X.
Alphabet's shares, Google's parent company, rose by more than 8% following the announcement.
Smartphone manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, and Motorola will also benefit. Previously, Google paid billions for companies to pre-install or promote its products on their devices, but such exclusive agreements will now be prohibited. In 2021, Google spent over $26 billion on this.
Now companies will be able to pre-install other search engines, browsers, or AI assistants alongside Google products. Meanwhile, Google will still be able to pay partners to have its services set as the default.
Analysts view this ruling as positive for large corporations.
“Apple also stands to gain, since now Google will have to renegotiate the search engine agreement annually,” said Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management.
Conversely, competitor DuckDuckGo criticized the ruling. “This doesn't force Google to change its illegal behavior. As a result, consumers will continue to suffer,” stated the company's founder and CEO, Gabriel Weinberg.
Google's legal troubles are far from over: another trial concerning the company's illegal monopoly in the online advertising market is set to begin this month.
In August 2025, Google was reported to have agreed to pay $30 million to settle a case in which plaintiffs accused the company of violating the privacy of underage YouTube users by collecting their personal data without parental consent and using that information for targeted advertising.
