Major Antitrust Victory for Google: Chrome Remains Unsold, Stocks Soar
Google triumphed in a pivotal antitrust case as U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta decreed on September 2, 2025, that the tech behemoth will not be compelled to sell its Chrome browser. This verdict signifies a substantial victory for Alphabet Inc., successfully dodging the most severe potential consequence of the Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit.
Implications of the Ruling
While Google retains Chrome, a source of nearly 40% of its U.S. search traffic, the company is mandated to terminate exclusive distribution agreements that establish Google as the default search engine on phones and devices. Additionally, the judge ordered Google to share search data with rivals to foster fair competition.
Market Reaction
Alphabet shares leaped 8% in extended trading as investors rejoiced over the milder-than-anticipated penalties. The DOJ had initially demanded Chrome’s forced sale for $34.5 billion, with AI competitor Perplexity showing interest in procuring the browser.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai described the DOJ’s original proposals as “so far-reaching” that they would stifle innovation. The company intends to contest both the initial monopoly ruling and the remedies, potentially prolonging the case until 2026 or 2027.