Highlights:
- Google wants to delay sharing search data with competitors, including OpenAI
- The request follows a 2024 ruling that Google illegally monopolized online search
- Judge Amit Mehta found Google abused default search agreements to block rivals
- Google argues users choose its products voluntarily, not because they are forced
- Other remedies, including privacy safeguards, would remain in place during the appeal
Google has asked a federal appeals court to postpone a requirement that would force the company to share key search data with competitors, including ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, while it appeals a sweeping antitrust ruling that declared the company an illegal monopolist in online search.
The request stems from a landmark decision issued in 2024 by US District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C., who ruled that Google used unlawful tactics to maintain its dominance in online search and text-based advertising. According to the ruling, Google secured its monopoly largely through exclusive distribution agreements that made its search engine the default option on smartphones and browsers, significantly limiting consumer choice and competition.
In court filings, Google argued that Judge Mehta went too far in crafting remedies designed to level the playing field. In particular, the company objected to being required to share proprietary data with rivals while its appeal is still pending. Google warned that complying with the order now could result in the irreversible loss of valuable trade secrets before a higher court has a chance to review the case.
“The order risks exposing sensitive information that cannot be undone,” Google said, emphasizing that such data-sharing obligations should be paused until the appeals process is complete. The company maintains that consumers use Google’s search engine because they prefer it, not because they are forced to do so through anticompetitive practices.
In a related blog post, Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs, criticized the ruling for failing to recognize the fast pace of innovation in the technology sector. She argued that Google faces intense competition from both established tech companies and well-funded startups, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence and digital advertising.
Despite its objections, Google clarified that it is not seeking to delay all aspects of Judge Mehta’s remedies. The company said it would comply with requirements related to privacy and security safeguards for user data while the appeal is ongoing. However, Google stressed that it is prepared to do “everything short of turning over its data or providing syndicated results and ads” until the legal challenge is resolved.
The case against Google dates back to 2020, when the U.S. Department of Justice filed the lawsuit during the first term of former President Donald Trump. The trial took place in the fall of 2023, and Judge Mehta issued his ruling in August 2024, concluding that Google had illegally monopolized the search market through multibillion-dollar deals with Apple, Samsung, and other device makers. Under those agreements, Google paid more than $20 billion annually to secure default status, effectively blocking rivals from critical distribution channels.
Following a second trial in spring 2025, Judge Mehta rejected a Justice Department request to force Google to sell its Chrome browser. He allowed Google to continue paying for default placement of its search engine and AI apps, but ordered that such deals be rebid annually, giving competitors a greater chance to compete.
The appeals court’s decision on Google’s request could have far-reaching implications for the future of competition in online search and artificial intelligence.
