Google can keep Chrome, but will have to share search data with rivals, rules US judge

A US federal judge ruled on Tuesday (Sept 2) that Google will not be forced to sell its Chrome browser or Android operating system but must share parts of its search data with rivals to boost competition in online search.

US District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, in a 223-page decision, ordered Google to provide “qualified competitors” with access to some of its search results and data.

However, he rejected prosecutors’ demand that the tech giant be broken up, saying selling Chrome or Android was not necessary.

The Justice Department had pushed for broader data-sharing, arguing it was key to curbing Google’s monopoly.

Google, meanwhile, warned that such measures could allow competitors to “reverse-engineer” its technology. CEO Sundar Pichai voiced those concerns during the April 2025 trial, according to Reuters.

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Google has indicated it will appeal the ruling, which could delay any changes for years. The company also argued that its deals with device makers and carriers, including Samsung, Motorola, AT&T, and Verizon, already permit rival search engines to be installed on devices.

Judge Mehta further barred Google from signing exclusive agreements that prevent manufacturers from preloading competing products on new devices. His decision follows a lengthy antitrust battle, after he ruled in 2024 that Google had illegally suppressed competition in online search.