A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Google must share certain search data with competitors to promote fair competition, but has rejected calls to force the company to divest its Chrome browser and Android operating system.
The decision marks a significant development in the ongoing antitrust case against Google.
Judge Amit Mehta’s 226-page ruling prohibits Google from entering into exclusive agreements that prevent device makers from pre-installing rival search engines.
Additionally, the company is required to share limited access to its search index and user interaction data with competitors like Bing and DuckDuckGo.
However, the judge determined that more drastic measures, such as breaking up Google or forcing it to sell Chrome and Android, would be excessive and potentially harmful to consumers.
Google has expressed concerns that sharing its search data could compromise user privacy and the integrity of its services.
The company plans to appeal the ruling, which could delay its implementation for several years.
The case is part of a broader effort by U.S. regulators to address monopolistic practices in the tech industry, with similar investigations targeting companies like Meta, Amazon, and Apple.
While the ruling is seen as a partial victory for the Justice Department, it falls short of the more aggressive remedies they had sought.
Critics argue that the decision does not go far enough to dismantle Google’s dominance in the search and advertising markets.
Supporters of the ruling contend that it strikes a balance between promoting competition and avoiding unintended negative consequences.
The outcome of Google’s appeal will likely have significant implications for the future of antitrust enforcement in the tech industry and could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future.