Google’s Search Monopoly Faces Scrutiny, But Chrome Stays: Another Slap on the Wrist?

In a landmark ruling on September 2, 2025, U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta ordered Google to share its search data with rivals to address its illegal monopoly in online search, but stopped short of forcing the tech giant to divest its Chrome browser.

This decision, while significant, feels like yet another light tap on the wrist for a company that has long dominated the digital landscape, evading the kind of accountability that could truly level the playing field.

Google’s monopolistic grip—spanning search, advertising, and platforms like YouTube—raises questions about whether private companies in standard-of-living industries should be held to constitutional standards, even as they hide behind the immunity of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.