Google doesn’t have to sell its wildly popular Chrome web browser, but can’t engage in exclusive search deals, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday. Google must also share search data.
This remedy is a long-awaited moment after a landmark 2020 antitrust case against Google from the Department of Justice, which ruled the internet giant was illegally maintaining a dominance in online search. It did so by inking expensive contracts with companies like Apple, Mozilla and Samsung that made Google the default search platform on various services and devices.
A potential remedy to the case would have required Google to sell off its Chrome web browser, which currently maintains 69% global market share, according to GlobalStats. Chrome gives Google valuable user data that it uses to improve search and better focus online advertising.
Google didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
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