Google avoids breakup but will share search data with competitors

A US federal judge ruled that Google does not need to sell its Chrome browser but must share search data with its rivals, marking a significant decision in the ongoing case over Google’s dominance in the search market. The Department of Justice had initially demanded that Google sell Chrome to end its monopolistic control over online search. However, Judge Amit Mehta decided that a full breakup was unnecessary. Instead, Google will be prohibited from entering exclusive contracts that favor its own services, such as default search engine agreements with companies like Apple. This means manufacturers can promote other search engines and AI assistants alongside Google’s offerings. While Google sees the ruling as a win, arguing that the rise of artificial intelligence has increased competition, critics, such as DuckDuckGo, feel it does not go far enough to curb Google’s illegal monopoly. Shares of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, rose following the decision, signaling support from the market. Despite this, the ruling does not mark the end of Google’s legal challenges, as it faces another trial later this month over its monopoly in online advertising technology.