A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Alphabet’s Google will not be forced to divest its Chrome browser or Android operating system, but must begin sharing search data with competitors to foster fair competition in the online search market. The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, by District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, marks a major development in the five-year-long antitrust battle between Big Tech and U.S. regulators.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) had sought harsher remedies, including forcing Google to sell Chrome and halt billions of dollars in payments to Apple and other device makers that secure its default search engine status. By allowing these payments to continue, the decision sent Alphabet’s shares up 7.2% in extended trading, while Apple’s stock rose 3%. Investors welcomed the reprieve, which ensures Google retains its most critical assets.
However, Judge Mehta’s ruling introduces a new challenge: Google must provide rivals with access to its search data, a move the DOJ and state attorneys general say will “level the playing field” in a market where Google commands over 90% of global search traffic. Analysts warn this could erode its competitive edge while boosting challengers like Microsoft’s Bing and emerging AI-driven platforms such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Google, however, has raised concerns about the implications for user privacy.
The decision is part of a wider crackdown on Big Tech, with Meta, Amazon, and Apple also facing antitrust lawsuits across the U.S. and Europe. Google, meanwhile, is still battling a separate DOJ case targeting its dominance in online advertising, where regulators want it to divest parts of its ad tech business. With appeals expected, experts say the legal fight could stretch into 2027 or beyond, shaping not only the future of Google’s dominance but also the broader landscape of search, advertising, and artificial intelligence innovation.
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