Federal court rules Google does not have to sell Chrome
A US judge in Washington has determined that Google does not have to sell its Chrome browser and Android operating system, a remarkable victory for Big Tech in the long-running antitrust case against the company. However, Google does have to share certain search data with competitors to increase competition in the online search market.
Shareholders reacted positively to the news, with shares of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, up about 7.2% aftermarket, while Apple’s shares were up 3%.
Judge Amit Mehta, who had already ruled in 2024 that Google has an illegal monopoly in online search and advertising, took a moderate approach this time. He concluded that enforcing sales of Chrome or Android would be too drastic. Instead, he imposed restrictions: Google may no longer enter into exclusive contracts that exclude competitors, and must share certain data with rivals like Bing and DuckDuckGo.
The judge pointed out that artificial intelligence (AI) has already created new competitive forces since the case began. This influenced his decision to be cautious.
Although the data-sharing obligation offers potential competitive advantage to adversaries in the long run, analysts say it will not lead to major changes immediately; consumer acceptance takes time.
Google is expected to challenge this ruling. As a result, the legal process could take years, possibly all the way to the US Supreme Court.
The legal process could take years, possibly all the way to the US Supreme Court.
Currently, several major technology companies in the US are under scrutiny due to antitrust investigations or lawsuits regarding their market dominance: Google is fighting two major antitrust lawsuits in the United States. Another case to be heard in Virginia in September will determine whether Google must divest parts of its advertising technology.
Meta, meanwhile, is resisting regulator FTC’s attempt to undo its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The FTC argues that Meta strategically acquired rivals to maintain its dominance. A ruling is not expected before the end of 2025.
Amazon is accused by the FTC of using pricing algorithms that cost consumers more than $1 billion extra. Although the programme was discontinued in 2019, the company is facing trial again in 2027.
Apple is being sued for restrictions on app developers and third parties, leaving users tied to the iPhone ecosystem. The case continues until at least 2027, but there is no trial date yet.
The FTC is further investigating whether Microsoft is using unfair licensing strategies in the productivity software market, crowding out competitors. So far, no formal lawsuit has been filed.
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