Google has filed an appeal against a landmark antitrust ruling by a US district judge. The court concluded the company illegally held monopoly power in online search.
Google said users select its services freely, not out of coercion. Lee-Anne Mulholland, vice president for regulatory affairs, responded to the August 2024 decision. She said the ruling misrepresented why people rely on Google products.
Company disputes judge’s take on market competition
Google announced the appeal on Friday and criticised Judge Amit Mehta’s reasoning. The company said the ruling ignored the pace of technological innovation. It also argued that the court underestimated competitive pressure from rivals.
Google requested a pause on implementing the ordered remedies. Some analysts described the measures as limited in scope. Google warned that immediate enforcement could disrupt markets and slow innovation.
Judge acknowledges AI shift but rejects breakup plan
Judge Mehta recognised rapid changes in Google’s business when issuing remedies in September. He wrote that generative artificial intelligence reshaped the case.
He rejected a government proposal to break up Google. That plan included spinning off Chrome, the world’s most widely used browser.
Instead, the judge imposed narrower measures. Google must share selected data with competitors approved by the court.
Data sharing and syndication spark resistance
The shared data would include parts of Google’s search index. That index functions as a vast map of online content.
Judge Mehta also ordered Google to let certain rivals display its search results. He said the step would give smaller firms time and resources to innovate.
Mulholland criticised the requirements on Friday. She said forced data sharing and syndication threatened privacy and discouraged competitors from developing independent products.
AI expansion draws growing regulatory scrutiny
Google has increased investment in artificial intelligence across its services. Regulators have raised concerns over how AI affects competition and publishers.
Last month, the European Union opened an investigation into Google’s AI summaries. Those summaries appear above standard search results.
The European Commission said it would examine Google’s use of website content. It also questioned whether publishers received fair compensation. Google said the inquiry risks slowing innovation in a competitive market.
This week, Google parent Alphabet reached a market value of four trillion dollars. Only three other companies have ever reached that level.
