Alphabet Appeals Google Search Monopoly Ruling, Seeks Pause on Court-Ordered Data Sharing

Alphabet (GOOGL) has filed an appeal against a major U.S. antitrust ruling that found Google guilty of maintaining an illegal monopoly in online search. At the same time, the company is pushing back against one of the most serious parts of the court’s remedy: a requirement that would force Google to share key search-related data with competitors.

What the court ruled

The legal battle centers on a federal decision led by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, who ruled that Google used unlawful tactics to keep its dominance in online search. As part of the remedies ordered after that decision, the court included measures meant to make the search market more open to rivals.

One of those measures involves making Google share certain data with competitors, including AI companies.

Google’s main argument: data sharing would expose trade secrets

Alphabet’s position is clear: it wants the court to delay the data-sharing order while the appeal is ongoing. The company says the risk is permanent. If it is forced to share sensitive data now and then later wins the appeal, the company cannot “undo” that data handover. In simple words, once the information is out, it is out.

The argument is that this data sharing could expose Google’s internal systems and trade secrets, harming the business in ways that cannot be reversed.

Google is willing to follow other restrictions, for now

Google is not trying to block every part of the court’s remedy package.

According to court filings referenced in coverage, the company said it is prepared to comply with other requirements while the appeal is pending. One example is limiting contracts that allow Google to preload apps, including its Gemini AI chatbot, to one year.

But Google drew the line at turning over its search data or providing syndicated results and ads while the appeal plays out.

Why this matters for competition and AI

This case is bigger than one company versus regulators. If Google is forced to share search data, it could benefit competing search engines and also AI firms that want access to large-scale search insights.

The court-ordered sharing has been described as something that could shift the balance of power in online search, especially as AI tools become more search-like and search becomes more AI-driven.

What happens next

Alphabet’s appeal is now moving forward, and the company is asking for a pause on the data-sharing order until the appeals court decides the case.

Meanwhile, U.S. antitrust authorities still have the option to challenge the judge’s broader remedy decision. A coalition of states and the Justice Department have a deadline (reported as February 3) to decide whether to appeal Mehta’s refusal to impose tougher remedies, such as forcing a breakup or ending default-search agreements.

Bottom line

Alphabet is appealing the monopoly ruling, but its most urgent fight right now is over one specific requirement: sharing Google search data with rivals. Google says the harm would be irreversible, and it wants that part frozen until the appeal is resolved.