Google secured a partial victory in its long-running antitrust battle after a U.S. judge ruled the company can keep its Chrome browser, Android operating system, and lucrative Apple deal, but must share data with competitors to boost market competition.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling followed a five-year legal fight with regulators who accused Google of maintaining an illegal monopoly in search and online advertising. While Mehta previously found Google guilty of monopoly abuse, he stopped short of forcing the breakup of core businesses like Chrome or Android, a move that had worried investors. Alphabet’s shares jumped 7.2% after the ruling, while Apple gained 3%.
The decision allows Google to continue paying Apple billions annually to keep Google Search as the default on iPhones and other devices, but it also requires Google to open its data to competitors. Analysts say this could help artificial intelligence firms and rival search engines develop stronger tools, potentially challenging Google’s dominance in the future.
Mehta acknowledged that artificial intelligence has already changed the competitive landscape, citing platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT as examples of disruptive technology that threatens Google’s search business. “The money flowing into this space, and how quickly it has arrived, is astonishing,” he wrote.
Google said it is concerned about privacy risks from data-sharing and is considering an appeal, which could send the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Legal experts believe the remedies chosen were designed to survive higher court scrutiny.
The ruling also stops Google from signing exclusive contracts with device makers, making it easier for companies like Samsung and Motorola to pre-install rival search apps.
Meanwhile, Google faces additional lawsuits over its app store and digital advertising technology, part of a wider U.S. crackdown on Big Tech that also includes Meta, Amazon, and Apple.
Nithin Rosh 
Sekar Rao