Google will not be forced to sell its Chrome web browser following a landmark ruling in a long-running antitrust case, but it will have to share search data with competitors.
The decision, delivered by US District Judge Amit Mehta, marks the latest chapter in the Justice Department’s efforts to address Google’s dominance in online search. The case focused on Google securing default search engine status across its own products—like Android and Chrome—and through deals with companies such as Apple.
The DOJ had sought a drastic remedy: forcing Google to sell Chrome. However, Judge Mehta ruled on Tuesday that such a breakup was “a poor fit for this case.” Instead, he imposed restrictions barring Google from exclusive contracts that limit competition. The company must also provide rivals with access to certain search data, ensuring a more level playing field.
Google, which has denied wrongdoing since the case began in 2020, framed the decision as a victory. In a statement, the company highlighted how artificial intelligence is reshaping online search. “Today’s decision recognizes how much the industry has changed through the advent of AI, which is giving people so many more ways to find information,” Google said.
The tech giant argued that its success comes from building a superior product, not from illegal practices. Consumers, it claims, prefer Google’s search engine because of its reliability and speed.
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Judge Mehta, however, had previously ruled that Google unlawfully maintained monopoly power in search through restrictive deals and other tactics. He concluded the company broke antitrust laws, though he rejected calls for a breakup.
Google will also keep control of Android, which powers most smartphones worldwide. The company had warned that forcing divestment would cripple its ecosystem.
Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater said the government is weighing its next steps. “Today’s remedy order agreed with the need to restore competition to the long-monopolized search market, and we are now weighing our options and thinking through whether the ordered relief goes far enough,” she wrote on X.
The ruling preserves Google’s core products but leaves it under tighter scrutiny as regulators push for a fairer digital marketplace.