Alphabet’s Google has been ordered to share search data with competitors in a bid to boost competition in online search, following a ruling by a Washington judge on Tuesday.
The decision, delivered by U.S. District Judge, Amit Mehta, stops short of forcing Google to sell its popular Chrome browser, a key demand prosecutors had pushed for.
During the trial in April, Google CEO, Sundar Pichai warned that the proposed data-sharing measures from the US Department of Justice could enable rivals to reverse-engineer Google’s technology, potentially undermining its competitive edge.
Google has said it plans to appeal the ruling, a move that could delay any changes for years. Judge Mehta also barred Google from entering exclusive agreements that block device makers from preinstalling rival products.
At trial, Google argued that its existing deals with manufacturers like Samsung and Motorola, and carriers including AT&T and Verizon, already allow them to feature alternative search options.
The ruling caps a five-year legal battle between the tech giant and the U.S. government. Judge Mehta had previously found that Google maintains an illegal monopoly in online search and advertising.
Prosecutors had pushed for sweeping remedies, including measures to prevent Google from extending its dominance into artificial intelligence.
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