He rules that Google may retain Chrome and Android, but results must include competitors in search index data.
District Judge Amit Mehta issued his final decision this past week in the Justice Department’s antitrust case against Google. The judge had determined last year that Google had illegally monopolized online searches by paying large tech companies to make Chrome the default browser and search engine on their devices.
Judge Mehta decided Google’s parent company, Alphabet, may keep Chrome and Android, but cannot demand exclusive contracts to require Chrome as the default. The judge also ruled that Google must include competitors in the search index data for six years, rather than the ten years requested by the government. The Justice Department had sought to require Google to possibly divest Chrome or Android.
“Google will not be required to divest Chrome; nor will the court include a contingent divestiture of the Android operating system in the final judgment,“ Judge Mehta wrote in his ruling. “Courts must approach the task of crafting remedies with a healthy dose of humility. This court has done so.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For district judges to be discerning as they hear anti-competitive cases against U.S. companies.
- For Justice Department officials to be prudent as they pursue lawsuits to enforce federal laws.
Sources: USA Today, PJ Media
