Google Walks Away Untouched in Antitrust, Monopoly Trial: What’s Happening?

Just when everyone thought the Google monopoly trial would finally shake up Big Tech, Judge Amit Mehta gave a mild ruling. Wedbush Securities Analyst Dan Ives even joked about it, saying, “Government Folds Like Cheap Suit.” Now, why is this case such a prominent issue in the tech world right now? On January 24, 2025, the United States Department of Justice sued Google for antitrust violations and illegally monopolizing the Adtech market. 

Ads are the major source of revenue for Google. The company garnered $264.59 billion in 2024 alone from ads, and why would Google want to give that up? The trial got so heated that many thought it was time for Google to sell Chrome. Google argued that it’s being punished for creating a product people like, and its market dominance is a sheer reflection of its high quality. And perhaps the judgment favored them. Here’s why. 

What did Judge Amit Mehta decide for Google?

Firstly…

• To not break up Google, it says whole. The Department of Justice wanted Google to be parted, especially to sell off either Chrome (browser) or Android (phone system). After the ruling, neither of them is happening.

Secondly…

• Its exclusive deals are banned, but not entirely. Here’s an example:
• Google pays Apple a big $20 billion a year to be shown as the default search engine on iPhones.
• The deal will continue, but with tweaks here and there.

The judge said:

• Google can still pay Apple as long as it’s one year at a time.
• While doing so, Google can’t restrict Apple from providing other search engines and AI tools (like OpenAI, Anthropic, Perplexity) as default (selective) options.

Thirdly, Data Sharing…

• Google will share some search and user data with competitors like OpenAI.
• However, not disclose its ad data as they are its primary source of income.

So, What Does the Ruling Mean for Each Player?

Google:

• Nothing really changes for Google; pretty much everything remains the same.
• It will continue to pay Apple and Samsung to remain the default search engine on iPhones and Samsung devices.
• It keeps Chrome, and so it remains the most powerful browser.
• To continue making money from advertising tied to search traffic.
• And Google will continue to push AI features inside search results like AI Overviews and AI Mode because, according to Google’s head of search, Liz Reid, AI is making people “searching more than ever.”

Apple:

• Nonetheless, $20 billion/year from Google is a big slice of Apple’s revenue. Now, Apple gets to keep it, plus can cash in on other competitors as well.
• Apple’s Eddy Cue hinted that it might add some AI search options to Safari (like how Google added Overviews and AI mode).
• It could also include OpenAI, Perplexity, Anthropic, and more. However, they won’t be a default as Google still holds that spot.

OpenAI (ChatGPT):

• It has been one of the best ironies for Google that OpenAI saved Google.
• According to the judge, when the trial began, GenAI, such as ChatGPT, had become a sudden threat, and Google’s monopoly was deemed impossible. As a matter of fact, ChatGPT did become the center of the world.
• Now, after the ruling, OpenAI will get access to Google’s search/user data but not its Ad data.
• In the near future, ChatGPT could become a stronger competitor to Google Search.

What Did the Publishers Get?

Nothing but disappointment. Publishers are angry about the Overviews (an AI feature on Google) and the overuse of AI, as they use their content without giving the creators the deserved credit.

According to Whistler Billboards.com, several sites are experiencing a 70% drop in their traffic due to the Overview AI feature in Google Search.

Less traffic means fewer ad views, which means less revenue for publishers. The ruling didn’t even consider the publishers; instead, it gave search data to OpenAI.

So here after the ruling:

• Google gets to dominate search.
• Google gets to dominate ads.
• And after sharing user data with AI, the publishers get nothing. 

Final Thoughts…

After the ruling, everyone (except publishers) got something out of it. Apple still got its $20 billion and potentially some more from other competitors (of Google). OpenAI gets data sharing. And mostly, Google remains Google, and not much changes.