A US federal court has decided that Google will retain its key assets but is required to share data with competitors. This ruling may alter the current landscape of online search and advertising.
Google's Five-Year Antitrust Battle
The ruling, delivered on September 2, 2025, by Judge Amit Mehta, follows a five-year legal battle that began in 2020, when the US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing the company of monopolizing the online search and advertising market. The court acknowledged that Google holds an illegal monopoly but did not mandate the company to sell Chrome or cease its payments to partner companies.
Data Sharing Requirement as a Challenge
While Google avoided severe consequences, the obligation to share search data with competitors introduces new challenges for the company. Google has expressed concerns that data sharing may negatively impact user privacy. This measure is intended to create more competitive conditions and weaken Google’s advantage in the market.
AI's Impact on Search Competition
With the rise of AI technologies, such as ChatGPT from OpenAI, there has been a significant shift in the online search landscape. Judge Mehta noted that AI companies are not always direct competitors of Google. At the same time, Google hopes to integrate its AI technologies into Apple devices, which may help the company maintain a competitive edge.
Thus, despite retaining its core assets, Google will face new challenges due to the requirement to share data. This could change the balance of power in the online search market and lead to more choices for consumers.
