Judge Spares Google’s Chrome, Draws New Antitrust Battle Lines

A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Google will not be required to sell off its Chrome browser or Android operating system in the ongoing antitrust case concerning its alleged monopoly in online search. The decision, handed down by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, marks a significant shift from the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) more aggressive remedies, which had included a potential breakup of Google’s key assets. Instead, the court has ordered Google to end exclusive agreements that make its search engine the default on devices but has allowed the company to continue paying device makers to preload its products, including its Gemini AI chatbot [1].

The ruling follows a two-year period of legal proceedings initiated after the DOJ filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google in 2020. At the heart of the case was the government’s argument that Google had used exclusive contracts with device manufacturers like Apple and Samsung to maintain its dominant position in online search. These agreements, which involved billions in payments to device makers, were found to give Google an unfair advantage over competitors [2]. Mehta found that the company had indeed engaged in anticompetitive practices, but he stopped short of mandating the sale of key assets such as Chrome, stating that such a move would be "incredibly messy and highly risky."

One of the central demands from the DOJ was for Google to share its search data with third parties, particularly its index and user interaction data. The government argued that this would help level the playing field for smaller competitors and prevent Google from leveraging its dominance in search to dominate emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. However, the court limited the data-sharing requirement, exempting advertising data from the order. This decision was framed as a cautious approach, acknowledging the competitive landscape in the AI industry, which Mehta described as “a threat to the primacy of traditional internet search” [1].

The ruling has been widely viewed as a reprieve for Google, with its shares rising in post-market trading following the decision. The company had long opposed the DOJ’s more stringent remedies, including the potential sale of Chrome, arguing that such measures would harm innovation and impose undue burdens on consumers and partners. In a statement, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs, Lee-Anne Mulholland, expressed relief over the decision, stating that a Chrome sale would have “gone beyond the case’s focus on search distribution” [1]. Meanwhile, the DOJ acknowledged the ruling as a step forward in restoring competition but reserved the right to pursue further relief if necessary [2].

The decision also has implications for Google’s adtech business, which is currently under separate investigation by the DOJ and is set to enter a remedy phase later this month. The U.S. and EU are also navigating broader trade tensions that have influenced the handling of Google-related antitrust cases. Notably, an EU antitrust fine against Google over its adtech dominance was delayed at the last minute due to concerns over transatlantic trade relations [4]. These developments highlight the complex interplay between antitrust enforcement and international trade considerations.

Analysts suggest that while the ruling does not fully dismantle Google’s market control, it does impose meaningful constraints on its ability to use exclusive agreements to maintain its dominance. However, the court’s decision to avoid mandating the breakup of key products like Chrome means that Google will continue to operate with significant market influence. The ruling also underscores the growing scrutiny of tech monopolies, with parallels drawn to the landmark 1998 U.S. v. Microsoft case, which established a precedent for how antitrust remedies are applied to technology companies [1].

Source:

[1] A judge lets Google keep Chrome but levies other penalties (https://www.npr.org/2025/09/02/nx-s1-5478625/google-chrome-doj-antitrust-ruling)

[2] Google not required to sell Chrome or Android, judge rules ... (https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cg50dlj9gm4t)

[3] Google soars on court ruling that doesn't force the search ... (https://sherwood.news/power/google-soars-on-court-ruling-that-doesnt-force-the-search-giant-to-sell/)

[4] Google's adtech fine pulled at last minute over EU-US ... (https://www.mlex.com/mlex/articles/2382762/google-s-adtech-fine-pulled-at-last-minute-over-eu-us-trade-tensions)