Google antitrust ruling: Court says Google can keep Android and Chrome but will have to ...

In a landmark antitrust ruling, the US District Judge Amit Mehta has ruled that Google can retain its Android operating system and Chrome browser. Along with this, the ruling also stated that the company can also keep the lucrative deal with Apple. But, Google will now have to share search data with its rivals in order to open up competition in the online search market. As reported by Reuters, this decision is followed by a five-year legal battle in which regulators accused Google of maintaining illegal monopoly in search and related advertising. While the court stopped short of ordering a breakup of Google’s core products. But the data sharing mandate is seen as a significant step toward levelling the playing field for competitors, including emerging AI-powered search tools.As per the Reuters report, Judge Mehta also noted that artificial intelligence companies such as OpenAI and developing advanced chatbots and AI search engines, are “better placed to compete with Google than any search engine developer has been in decades”. By giving them access to Google Search data could help in accelerating innovation and reducing the company dominance in the sector.Along with Android operating system and Google Chrome, the court has also allowed Google to continue paying Apple — reportedly around $20 billion annually in order to remain the default search engine on its devices. After this judgement, the shares of Alphabet rose by 7.2% and Apple also gained 3% in extended trading.As per the Reuters report, the judgement has barred Google from entering exclusive contracts which prevent the device makers and carriers from preloading rival search apps. Recent agreements with Samsung, Motorola, AT&T, and Verizon already reflect this shift, allowing more flexibility for competitors.Google has expressed its concerns over sharing search data as it could impact the privacy of its users. The company is reviewing the decision, with plans to appeal — a process that could take years and potentially reach the U.S. Supreme Court. The ruling is part of a broader bipartisan crackdown on Big Tech, with ongoing cases against Meta, Amazon, and Apple.