Online search monopoly case: Google moves court against monopoly ruling, seeks pause on data-sharing order

Google has filed a notice to appeal a US federal court ruling that held it guilty of maintaining an illegal monopoly in online search, according to court records, AFP reported.A US district judge had ruled in 2024 that the internet major monopolised search and text advertising by using exclusive distribution agreements that made it the default option for users.Responding to the ruling on Friday, Google said it “ignored the reality that people use Google because they want to, not because they’re forced to.”“The decision failed to account for the rapid pace of innovation and intense competition we face from established players and well-funded start-ups,” Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs, wrote in a blog post.As part of its appeal process, the company has asked District Court Judge Amit Mehta to pause an order requiring Google to share certain data with rivals to level the playing field in online search.Google argued in a court filing that complying with the data-sharing requirement before the appeal is decided could lead to the loss of trade secrets.The order was imposed at the same time the judge rejected a request from the US government that Google be forced to sell its Chrome web browser.At the time, the judge said Google must make available to “qualified competitors” search index data and user interaction information that rivals could use to improve their services.Google said it is not seeking to delay other requirements from the court’s earlier orders, including those related to privacy and security safeguards for user data.“Although Google believes that these remedies are unwarranted and should never have been imposed, it is prepared to do everything short of turning over its data or providing syndicated results and ads while its appeal is pending,” the company said.