Nearly five years after the DOJ sued Google for monopolistic practices, key rulings have emerged. US District Judge Amit Mehta prohibited Google from exclusive contracts with partners like Apple for search placement but allowed continued payments, benefiting both parties. Google retains ownership of its Chrome browser, a critical tool for user engagement and data collection. This ruling potentially opens avenues for AI competitors like OpenAI and Perplexity, now able to promote their search tools on iPhones without violating agreements. Nevertheless, this decision presents challenges for rival browsers, including Microsoft Edge and Apple Safari, which struggle against Chrome’s dominance. While Google must share some search data with competitors, its stronghold on search advertising and publishing remains largely intact, potentially hurting online content creators by limiting ad revenues. The long-term impact of these decisions on privacy and user experience is still under scrutiny as the case progresses.
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