Google appeals US search monopoly ruling, seeks pause on remedies

Google

• Google appeals US judge's ruling on illegal search monopoly
• Google seeks to pause remedies while the antitrust case continues
• Final remedies require Google to share data and restrict future search deals

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Google on Friday formally appealed a US federal judge’s decision that found the company guilty of illegally monopolising the internet search market, extending one of the most consequential antitrust fights in Silicon Valley history.

The appeal targets an August 2024 ruling by US District Judge Amit Mehta, who concluded that Google violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act by maintaining monopoly power in search and search advertising. At the time, Google signalled that it would challenge the decision, arguing that the court underestimated competition and overstated the role of contractual agreements in shaping user behaviour.

In a blog post published on Friday, Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, said the ruling “ignored the reality that people use Google because they want to, not because they’re forced to.” She argued that the court failed to reflect how quickly the search and AI markets are evolving, with pressure coming from both established technology firms and well-funded start-ups.

By filing the appeal, Google is also seeking to pause the implementation of remedies ordered by the court, a move that could keep the status quo in place while the case winds its way through the legal system. Appeals in complex antitrust cases can take years, giving Google valuable breathing room as it continues to integrate artificial intelligence more deeply into search.

The original antitrust trial began in September 2023 and featured extensive testimony on Google’s dominance, including its lucrative default search agreements with companies such as Apple and Mozilla. The case took a softer turn for Google in September 2025, when Judge Mehta rejected the most aggressive remedies proposed by the US Department of Justice, including a forced sale of the Chrome browser. Markets welcomed that outcome, with Alphabet’s stock jumping about 8 percent on the day.

Final remedies, issued in December, stopped well short of dismantling Google’s business. Mehta ordered the company to share certain raw search interaction data used to train its ranking and AI systems, while explicitly protecting Google’s underlying algorithms. The judge also restricted future search distribution deals, requiring that any similar agreements terminate within a year of being signed.

Critics described the measures as a slap on the wrist for a company that dominates how billions of users access information online. Google, for its part, has warned that even these requirements could undermine user privacy and weaken incentives for rivals to develop their own products.