Perplexity Fights Back: Let Users Choose, Don’t Break Up Chrome

Instead of supporting drastic penalties, the company wants the court to focus on giving users more control over their default apps.

Perplexity’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, shared in a post on X on April 21 that the company had been invited to testify in the remedies stage of the trial. He also made it clear that Perplexity disagrees with the idea of forcing Google to sell its Chrome browser.

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This trial follows Judge Amit Mehta’s decision in May 2024, where he ruled that Google broke antitrust laws by using exclusive deals with companies like Apple and Samsung to keep its search engine in the lead.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is pushing for changes, which include selling off Chrome, placing limits on Google’s AI-related contracts, and stopping deals that make Google apps the default on new devices.

However, Perplexity explained in a blog post on April 21 that phone makers and mobile carriers feel pressured to pre-install Google’s apps.

Manufacturers must stick to a Google-approved version of Android if they want access to popular apps like the Play Store, YouTube, and Maps. Any small change, like switching the default search engine, can lead to lower ad revenue or even losing access to those apps.

Meanwhile, Google recently announced plans to apply new rules for cryptocurrency ads across Europe. What do they say? Read the full story.