Judge rejects breakup of Google search, keeps Chrome and Android

A U.S. judge on Tuesday rejected the Justice Department's request to break up Google's search business, allowing Alphabet Inc. to retain control of key assets such as the Chrome browser and the Android operating system while imposing limited behavioral remedies intended to open the search market to rivals. The decision by U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta came after a lengthy trial into whether Google illegally maintained a monopoly over online search and its distribution arrangements.

Mehta declined to require divestitures of Chrome or Android, a central demand from the DOJ, but ordered several constraints on Google's contracting and data practices. The court barred exclusive distribution agreements that would guarantee Google remains the default search provider, and it required Google to share certain search index and interaction data with competitors and to create an independent oversight committee to monitor compliance. At the same time, the ruling said Google may continue making payments to partners, including Apple, that result in its search engine being preloaded on devices, a nuance that preserves a major revenue stream for the company.