Judge Rules Google Can Keep Chrome but Must End Exclusive Search Deals

A federal judge — U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta — has ruled that Google will not be forced to divest its Chrome browser, but must change certain business practices after being found to have illegally maintained a monopoly in internet search.

Key points from the ruling:

• Google will not be required to divest Chrome or (contingently) the Android operating system — the judge said the government “overreached” requesting forced divestiture in its final judgment.
• However, Google is barred from striking exclusive distribution deals for Google Search, Google Assistant, Gemini, and Chrome.
• Google may continue to pay partners (for example, Apple) to preload search and other apps, since the judge found that abruptly ending such arrangements could cause downstream harms to distribution partners, related markets, and consumers.
• Google has indicated plans to appeal; the company did not immediately comment on the ruling.

The Department of Justice had sought stronger remedies, including forcing Google to sell Chrome. Judge Mehta’s 230-page decision rejects that request but imposes restrictions intended to reduce Google’s ability to use exclusive deals to maintain search dominance.

For more detailed coverage, see TechCrunch’s article: Google avoids break-up, faces new oversight in search antitrust trial — TechCrunch and Search Engine Land’s summary: Google can keep Chrome but exclusive search deals must end — Search Engine Land.

What do you think — do these remedies go far enough to restore competition in search? Share your view below.