A federal judge dismissed a consumer antitrust lawsuit against Google. The suit challenged Google's distribution deals with device manufacturers like Apple.
Plaintiffs had argued these agreements, which make Google the default search engine, stifled competition. They claimed the deals prevented rivals offering stronger privacy protections.
U.S. District Judge Rita Lin of Northern California issued the ruling on October 1, 2026. She determined consumers failed to provide evidence of actual harm.
The court found no proof that more privacy-focused or ad-free search alternatives would have been available without Google's contracts.
This dismissal marks a significant win for Google. The company continues to navigate multiple antitrust challenges, including a landmark case from the Department of Justice.