Judge rules that Google won't have to sell Chrome or Android, but must share search data
A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Google will not be required to sell its Google Chrome browser or Android operating system, following last year’s ruling that the company holds a monopoly in online search. This outcome rejects the Department of Justice's (DOJ) proposal to break up Google’s businesses, which the court found “overreaching” since neither Chrome nor Android was directly used to impose illegal restraints. Instead, the judge set key conditions on how Google can promote its services. Of course this also means that neither Perplexity nor any other company will likely be able to acquire Chrome in the near future.
The court has also allowed Google to continue paying partners such as Mozilla or Apple to have Google Search, Chrome, and its AI products preinstalled or set as defaults. However, these agreements can no longer be exclusive, meaning competitors must also be allowed similar access for placement on devices. The court noted that banning these payments would have caused significant financial harm to companies like Apple and Mozilla, as well as disrupted services for consumers (notably, Apple receives around $20 billion annually from Google under this arrangement).
The most impactful new requirement is that Google must share specific search index and user-interaction data, excluding advertising information, with qualified competitors. The goal is to help rival firms develop and improve their own search technologies. To oversee compliance, an independent Technical Committee will monitor Google for the next six years. Google has announced its intention to appeal, with the mandated data sharing likely to be a focus of future litigation.
- Web Browser
- Free • Proprietary
Related news
External links
- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. GOOGLE LLC, 1:20-cv-03010, (D.D.C. Sep 02, 2025) ECF No. 1436UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA • Official source
- Court Allows Google-Apple Search Deal to Continue With ConditionsMacRumors
- Google won’t have to sell Chrome/Android, must share Search data9to5Google
- Judge rules in Google’s illegal search monopoly case: it can keep ChromeThe Verge
- Google can keep Chrome and Android, court rulesAndroid Authority
Comments
This makes me depressed. Sure, let Google continue to ruin Android by almost close-sourcing it and killing all community ROMs by enforcing stupid "security" checks that don't let you use half the apps in the playstore. The default AOSP is getting worse in all aspects with every new version. It doesn't even deserve that name anymore, it's more like "The Android Source Available Project". Sure, let Google continue to ruin the entire internet, by enforcing chrome-only functions, which break most pages on anything not chromium-based. Also let them kill adblockers and ruin the addon API. Everything's fine, as long as Mozilla keeps getting their paycheck to keep messing with their own AI bullshit instead of fixing their browser and making it competitive or at least WORKING. God, I hate Google.
impressive win for google, stock prices say everything. incredible that the judge really said 'you guys are a horrid monopoly, but you know what, I'm gonna do nothing about it because what if ai is a threat to you...' when google itself is one of the biggest players pushing that very same ai. on the other hand, i think it's somewhat ok overall that mozilla continues to have their paycheck, but i do think a bite in the ass would have been good to finally wake the leadership into really correcting course. instead we keep the status quo and that is not necessarily ok.
There is a lot to unfold in this 230 pages decision, but it's more a win for Google than for free market. Google will remain Google, as fully as it used to (minus some few data sharing, if it doesn't win its appeal). Nobody is gonna buy Chrome nor Android, Google will still be able to continue messing with them, and enforcing all its products into most devices. Mozilla will still be able to continue developing Firefox (and other whatever things they're up to) for at least few more years. ... except, of course, if the Department of Justice doesn't go mental about it and decide to bypass every federal US laws to pursue its personal vendetta.