U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta has finalized the rules for Google following its major antitrust loss last year. On Friday, the judge released specific details on how he intends to break Google’s illegal grip on internet search. While the court decided back in September not to force a sale of the Chrome browser, these new mandates show that Google still faces a strict path forward.
Mehta noted in his filing that “the devil is in the details,” and his ruling reflects that. One of the biggest changes involves the massive deals Google cuts with partners like Apple. For years, Google paid billions to remain the default search engine on iPhones and Macs. Now, the judge says Google cannot sign any agreement like that unless it lasts for no more than 1 year. This rule also covers products involving generative AI, ensuring Google can’t use new technology to lock down the market again.
To ensure Google complies, the court is establishing a specialized technical committee. This group will include experts in software engineering, AI, behavioral science, and data security. To prevent bias, members cannot have worked for Google or its competitors within six months of joining.
This committee will have significant power. Judge Mehta ruled that they must have access to Google’s source code and algorithms, though they must sign confidentiality agreements. Their main goal is to oversee how Google shares data. The ruling forces the tech giant to hand over raw “search interaction data” to competitors. This allows rival search engines to train their own systems using real user patterns. However, Google does not have to disclose the algorithms it uses to rank results.
The judge originally ruled in August 2024 that Google held an illegal monopoly. While Google successfully dodged the “nuclear option” of breaking up the company, these new rules aim to level the playing field. Google did not comment immediately on Friday, but the company has already stated its intention to appeal the original antitrust ruling.
