A federal judge has issued new details on the remedies Google faces following last year’s antitrust ruling, adding clarity to measures aimed at curbing the company’s dominance in online search and advertising.
In mid-2024, a U.S. District Court found that Google held an illegal monopoly in its core market of internet search. The Department of Justice had sought sweeping remedies, including a forced sale of Google’s Chrome browser, butJudge Amit Mehta ruled in September that the most severe consequences were a “poor fit for this case.” Google was instead directed to share certain search data with competitors and revise key commercial agreements.
On Friday, Mehta clarified additional restrictions, emphasizing annual limits on default search deals. “The age-old saying ‘the devil is in the details’ may not have been devised with the drafting of an antitrust remedies judgment in mind, but it sure does fit,” he wrote in the latest filing. The ruling requires Google to renegotiate all default-placement agreementsannually, including contracts with Apple, Samsung, and other device manufacturers. While Google may continue to pay for default placement, these arrangements can no longer extend beyond a single year.
Annual Rebids for Default Search and AI Deals
The judgment applies broadly to agreements involving generative AI products. Mehta noted that any “application, software, service, feature, tool, functionality, or product” using large language models falls under the one-year limitation. GenAI “plays a significant role in these remedies,” he added, signaling the court’s attention to the growing influence of AI in search markets.
This measure aims to provide rivals, particularly fast-moving AI companies, an opportunity to compete for default positions that have historically been held for years. New challengers such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT-powered Atlas browser, Microsoft Edge with Copilot AI, and Opera One with its Aria assistant are entering the field, increasing competitive pressure on Google.
Technical Committee to Oversee Data Sharing
Mehta also outlined requirements for a technical committee responsible for overseeing Google’s data-sharing obligations. Committee members cannot have conflicts of interest, including employment with Google or competitors within six months before or one year after service.
The committee will have access to Google’s source code and algorithms under confidentiality agreements and will monitor the sharing of raw search interaction data used to train ranking and AI systems. Mehta clarified that Google does not have to provide the actual algorithms, only data sets that contribute to its competitive advantage, described in September as a “small fraction” of total traffic.
Wider Antitrust Context
This ruling builds on an August 2024 decision holding that Google violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act. The antitrust trial began in September 2023. Google continues to face scrutiny in other areas, including adtech, where Judge Leonie Brikema has yet to issue remedies for practices tying two of Google’s advertising tools together.
While Google has announced plans to appeal multiple antitrust rulings, the latest court order represents a significant step in enforcing competition in search and AI markets. The one-year rebid rule, in particular, could reshape the dynamics of default search agreements and provide new openings for emerging competitors.
Source:
“Judge finalizes remedies in Google antitrust case”, cnbc.com. December 5, 2025
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