A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Google does not need to divest its Chrome web browser but must share certain information with competitors. This ruling comes from District Judge Amit Mehta following a prolonged legal conflict regarding Google’s market dominance in online search.
The case primarily focused on Google’s status as the default search engine on various devices, including its own products such as Android and Chrome, as well as those made by Apple. The U.S. Department of Justice had sought to compel Google to sell Chrome, but the recent decision allows the company to retain ownership while prohibiting exclusive contracts and requiring the sharing of search data with rival companies.
Google had suggested alternative measures, such as reducing revenue-sharing agreements with firms like Apple in order to maintain its position as the default search engine on their devices. The company has denied any wrongdoing since the charges were initiated in 2020, asserting that its search engine’s popularity stems from its superior performance compared to competitors.
In past decisions, Judge Mehta concluded that Google had employed unfair strategies to establish and maintain a monopoly in the online search market, which violated U.S. law. However, he determined that forcing a complete divestiture of Chrome would be inappropriate.
The ruling also indicated that Google would not be required to sell its Android operating system, which powers a vast majority of smartphones globally. Google has previously argued that removing parts of its operations would hinder their functionality.
Following the judge’s ruling, shares in Alphabet, Google’s parent company, rose by more than 6%. Commentary from financial analysts suggested that the ruling could be beneficial for major technology firms. Google has indicated plans to appeal the decision, which may delay any required actions for years. Additionally, the company faces another legal challenge later this month concerning alleged illegal monopolies in online advertising technology.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8zdrenm1zo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss