The ruling will hurt companies that are paid multi-million dollar fees to feature Google on their sites

• Federal judge blocks Google from paying to be the default search engine on devices and browsers

• Company must share its data with rivals but avoids harsher remedies like selling Chrome

• Ruling follows years-long monopoly case brought by the Justice Department

A federal judge on Tuesday barred Google from paying to be the exclusive search engine on devices and web browsers, saying the move was necessary to open the market to competitors, according to press reports.

The order, from U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta, also requires Google to share its massive trove of search data with rivals to help them improve their services. The decision aims to chip away at Googles overwhelming dominance in search, where it controls about 90 percent of the market.

However, Mehta stopped short of imposing more severe measures sought by the Justice Department, such as forcing Google to sell its Chrome browser. He also said Google could still pay for some distribution of its products to avoid harming partners like device makers and carriers.

Five years of litigation

The ruling stems from a five-year case that began when the Trump administrations Justice Department accused Google of illegally monopolizing the search market through deals with companies such as Apple. Mehta agreed last year that Google had broken antitrust laws and then held a separate trial to determine remedies.

Google is expected to appeal the order, and the company is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to pause the remedies while the case moves forward. Any financial effects are unlikely to be felt immediately.

The remedies trial highlighted the shifting search market, including the rise of artificial intelligence. Witnesses from AI companies testified that they struggled to gain visibility because partners feared upsetting Google. An Apple executive testified that Google searches through Safari had recently declined for the first time in 20 years, and that Apple may soon add AI options such as ChatGPT or Perplexity to its browser.

What you need to know

• Judge Amit Mehta barred Google from making exclusive default search deals and ordered it to share data with competitors.

• The Justice Department sought harsher remedies, including breaking up parts of Google, but the judge declined.

• The case is ongoing, with Google appealing the order and AI alternatives waiting in the wings.

The California bill would ban cookware coated with 'forever chemicals'

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

An expert shares everything consumers need to know

• The U.S. has identified a case of New World Screwworm (NWS) in a Maryland resident who had recently traveled to El Salvador.

• NWS isnt endemic to the U.S., but its important for travelers to be aware of the risks.

• U.S. cattle could be at a high risk of NWS.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified a case of New World Screwworm (NWS) in the U.S.

The case was linked to a Maryland resident who had recently traveled to El Salvador.

As the U.S. Department of Agriculture is conducting an ongoing investigation, what do consumers need to know about NWS?

Dr. Heather Walden, an associate professor in the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, shared her knowledge with ConsumerAffairs, highlighting everything consumers need to know about this parasite.

What do you need to know?

Dr. Walden explained the top things that consumers need to know about NWS.

First, NWS is not endemic to the United States and is of primary concern in areas of central and South America, she explained. The US works diligently with other countries to prevent geographic spread into the US and other areas and the last U.S. outbreak was limited to the Florida Keys nearly a decade ago. This was quickly controlled using sterile release of male flies to effectively break the life cycle.

How is it transmitted?

If youve never heard of screwworm before, Dr. Walden shared the process of how its transmitted.

The NWS is transmitted through adult female flies laying eggs in fresh, non-contaminated wounds, she said. Any fresh wound will suffice, even a tick bite.

Once eggs are laid, they hatch quickly and the larvae (maggots) feed on living tissue as they develop. This takes time, it is not instantaneous. Development typically occurs over a week.

What is the impact on the U.S.?

Dr. Walden explained that while a full-fledged outbreak isnt likely, there are ways that NWS can affect the U.S.

The NWS can have devastating economic impacts on cattle production, which is why the U.S. works hard to keep this fly out of our cattle herds, Dr. Wladen said. The flies feed on living tissue, and if left untreated, animals infested with NWS can die.

Infestations are also painful as the larvae are feeding on living tissue. These flies can also infest most vertebrate hosts, including humans, wildlife, and our companion animals.

Safe travel

Because the NWS is more likely to be found in other countries, Dr. Walden urges travelers to be mindful on their trips.

Be aware of parasites and other pathogens endemic to countries where travel is planned, she said. Those most at risk for NWS include those along the southernmost border or those that travel to endemic areas.

If fly larvae are noticed on any open wounds, seek medical care by contacting your physician or veterinarian and get them removed and identified. With proper care and quick intervention, the outcome is usually favorable.

An expert shares how consumers might be able to save money

• Electricity bills are climbing nationwide, with some regions seeing double-digit hikes as utilities pass rising costs to consumers.

• Soaring demand and grid upgrades fueled by EVs, AI-driven data centers, and renewable integration are pushing prices higher.

• Consumers can cut costs by adjusting usage during peak times, exploring utility relief programs, and using smart tech to monitor power quality.

If your electricity bill has felt shockingly high lately, youre not alone.

Across the U.S., utilities are quietly pushing through rate hikes that leave many customers paying far more than they expected. For some households, bills are climbing by double digits in just a few months, straining budgets that are already stretched thin by rising costs elsewhere.

Whats even more frustrating? These hikes often come with confusing explanations and the impact goes beyond the bill, potentially shortening the life of expensive appliances.

Bob Marshall, CEO and founder of Whisker Labs, an autonomous grid monitoring sensor network in the U.S., spoke with ConsumerAffairs about these trends including how consumers may be able to save money.

Where are the price hikes?

Marshall explained that electricity costs are rising across most of the country, but the impact isnt the same everywhere.

Some regions are hit harder depending on their mix of power generation, the age of their infrastructure, and local regulations, he said.

Two main forces are driving the trend:

• Soaring demand. More EV charging, electronics, and the rapid expansion of data centers delivering AI are pushing electricity use sharply higher. With supply relatively flat, prices rise.
  

• Grid upgrades. The grid wasnt built for todays complexity. Utilities are spending heavily to modernize it, and those costs flow directly to consumers.

Why are prices going up?

Marshall shared that there are two primary reasons for these price hikes:

• Exploding demand. Electrification from EVs and smart devices to massive AI-driven data centers is driving unprecedented electricity use. With limited new supply, prices spike.

• Grid complexity. Integrating solar, wind, batteries and data center demand has made the grid far more complicated than it was designed to be. Utilities must invest in new generation, transmission, and distribution, and those costs show up in monthly bills.

Compounding both, Tings nationwide sensor network is detecting significant increases in poor power quality, including damaging harmonics, Marshall said. Harmonics are distortions in the electric signal that waste energy, damage equipment, and shorten the life of home appliances. Its an invisible cost that consumers ultimately pay.

Money-saving tips

While consumers may not be immune to these price hikes, Marshall said that there are some ways to save money.

Here are his top money-saving tips:

• Be strategic at peak times. During a heatwave, even small changes like raising your thermostat a couple degrees or shifting laundry to off-peak hours ease strain on the grid and reduce costs.

• Look into utility programs. Many providers offer assistance or bill relief options. Availability varies, but its worth checking if bills are becoming a burden.

• Use smart technology. Ting sensors give homeowners visibility into their homes power quality. Poor quality, like high total harmonic distortion (THD), can quietly drive up costs by reducing efficiency and shortening appliance life. With Ting, consumers can identify these issues and work with their utility to address them.