The U.S. Department of Justice and a coalition of states have filed a cross-appeal over the remedies imposed on Alphabet’s Google after a federal court found the company held a monopoly in online search. The case stems from a 2020 lawsuit alleging that Google blocked rivals through exclusive distribution contracts with device makers and service providers, including major deals with Apple. In a 2024 ruling, Judge Amit Mehta said Google “illegally maintained its position” through those agreements. His final order in September 2025 required Google to share certain raw search data with competitors and barred exclusive distribution tied to its search and AI products.
However, the court declined to force Google to divest Chrome or Android and did not stop payments for default search placement. The government said the limited steps fall short, signaling in court papers that they are not enough to address what it views as “entrenched advantages.” Google has also appealed, seeking to overturn the liability finding and to pause data-sharing while appeals continue. The outcome could shape how regulators approach large technology firms for years.
