As judge follows precedent, onlookers fear illegal conduct will continue
Alphabet shares jumped 9% on Wednesday after a judge spared Google from a forced breakup in a landmark antitrust case, easing investor concerns and fueling optimism about the tech giant's future, per CNBC. The Department of Justice had pushed for sweeping remedies, including forcing Google to sell off its Chrome browser. However, US District Judge Amit Mehta rejected the idea of a split, instead opting for less severe restrictions. While the court reaffirmed that Google holds an illegal monopoly in internet search, it stopped short of mandating major divestitures, meaning Google retains control of its Chrome browser and Android operating system, which is seen as crucial for Google's push into artificial intelligence.