Google Ordered to End Exclusive Deals, Avoid Divestiture of Chrome, Android in Antitrust Case

A federal judge ruled that Google's online search business is a monopoly and fined the company, but did not require it to sell off Chrome or Android. The judge barred Google from having exclusive contracts for its Google Search, Chrome, Google Assistant, and Gemini app products and ordered it to share search data with competitors. Google has vowed to appeal the ruling. Alphabet shares jumped 6% in after-hours trading.

A federal judge has ruled that Google's online search business constitutes a monopoly, imposing restrictions on the tech giant's practices. However, the judge did not order Google to sell off its Chrome browser or Android operating system. Instead, Google is barred from exclusive contracts for its Google Search, Chrome, Google Assistant, and Gemini app products and is required to share search data with competitors. The ruling, which Google has vowed to appeal, has sparked a 6% increase in Alphabet shares post-trading hours.

The ruling stems from a five-year legal battle between Google and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta found that Google holds an illegal monopoly in online search and related advertising. While the judge did not mandate the sale of Chrome or Android, he did propose significant changes to Google's business model to restore competition.

The DOJ's proposed remedies include unbundling Google's Android operating system from its other products, offering it separately, and providing websites more options to opt out of having their content used by Google's AI. Additionally, the DOJ seeks to give advertisers more control over where their ads appear.

Google has expressed concerns about these measures, stating that they could enable competitors to reverse-engineer its technology. The company has indicated that it plans to file an appeal, which could delay the implementation of these changes for years.

Meanwhile, the European Union has delayed its decision to fine Google for alleged abuses in its advertising technology (ad tech) dominance. The EU's competition team had initially planned to announce the fine on September 1, but concerns about potential backlash from the U.S. government have led to a delay. The EU is still expected to impose a fine and order changes to Google's business model, although the exact timing and severity remain uncertain.

These developments highlight the ongoing antitrust scrutiny that Google faces both in the U.S. and Europe. The company's ability to navigate these challenges and adapt its business model will be critical to its future success.

References:
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-02/google-s-adtech-fine-delayed-as-eu-frets-over-trump-backlash
[2] https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/us-judge-orders-google-share-search-data-with-competitors-2025-09-02/
[3] https://mashable.com/article/google-chrome-browser-sell-antitrust-lawsuit