U.S. Court Lets Alphabet Keep Control Of Chrome & Android

U.S. Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Alphabet can keep control of Google’s Chrome browser and Android operating system.

The company can also continue paying partners like Apple to feature its search engine. However, the judge blocked Google from making exclusive contracts with phone makers and browser developers. The decision came from a 2020 U.S. government case that claimed Google held a monopoly in search through unfair deals. While the judge agreed Google broke antitrust rules, he chose not to order a breakup. Instead, Google must share parts of its search index and interaction data with rivals. This step is meant to help other companies, including those building AI tools, compete in search. Analysts said Google still has a strong lead because of its scale and data.