US Judge Limits Google Antitrust Penalties Preserves Chrome, Android Monopoly

A U.S. federal judge ruled in the government’s antitrust case against Google that the company would not be forced to sell its Chrome browser or Android operating system, avoiding the most severe penalties sought. The judge, Amit Mehta, found Google to be a monopolist in online search and ruled it violated antitrust laws but imposed lighter remedies, such as requiring Google to share some search and user-interaction data with qualified competitors and restricting exclusive contracts for default search placement. While the Department of Justice hailed the ruling as a significant step toward increasing competition, critics including bipartisan members of Congress and advocacy groups condemned the decision for allowing Google to remain a monopoly and undermining efforts to curb Big Tech dominance. Industry and investors responded positively, with Alphabet shares rising, viewing the ruling as a relief that allows Google to continue its core business practices. This ruling signals a cautious judicial approach to Big Tech regulation, balancing restraint with limited enforcement in the evolving digital economy.