Alphabet Inc.’s Google has formally requested a U.S. federal judge to temporarily halt a requirement that it share proprietary data with competitors while it appeals a landmark ruling accusing the company of holding an illegal monopoly in online search. The request comes as Google seeks to prevent potential exposure of trade secrets and sensitive business information.

Background: Judge Rules Google Holds Illegal Monopoly

In 2024, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C., determined that Google had used unlawful tactics to maintain its dominance in the online search market. The ruling included remedies that would require Google to share its search and advertising data with rival companies, including generative AI developers such as OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT.

Google contends that these remedies overstep legal bounds and could irreversibly expose trade secrets. The company plans to appeal the ruling in a federal court, arguing that the mandated data-sharing requirement is unjustified and potentially harmful to competition and innovation.

What Google Is Requesting

According to court filings submitted on January 16, Google asked Judge Mehta to pause the data-sharing portion of the ruling until the appeal is resolved. The company clarified that it is not seeking to delay other measures from the 2024 ruling, such as limiting contracts that allow Google to preload apps on devices, including its Gemini AI chatbot, to one-year terms.

A Google spokesperson stated:

“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.”

Potential Risks of Data-Sharing

Google argued that complying with the data-sharing mandate now could irreversibly expose sensitive business information, including search algorithms and advertising strategies, with no recourse if the company eventually wins its appeal.

The company emphasized that the ruling, if enforced, could create significant competitive risks, particularly in emerging AI markets where access to proprietary search and ad data could benefit rival firms unfairly.

Antitrust Context in the United States

Despite being found to hold multiple illegal monopolies, Google has largely avoided severe penalties in its ongoing legal battles with U.S. antitrust authorities. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and a coalition of states involved in the case have until February 3, 2026, to decide whether to appeal Judge Mehta’s ruling rejecting stronger remedies.

Previously, antitrust enforcers had sought more aggressive measures, including forcing Google to sell its Chrome browser and end multibillion-dollar deals with Apple and other companies that preinstall Google as the default search engine on devices.

Implications for the Tech and AI Industry

The ruling and subsequent appeal have significant implications for the technology sector and AI development. If Google were required to share proprietary search and advertising data with competitors, it could reshape the competitive landscape, especially for companies developing AI-powered search tools and chatbots.

Industry analysts note that the case represents a broader effort by regulators to limit the power of Big Tech companies and ensure a more level playing field in digital markets. How the appeals court responds could influence future U.S. antitrust actions, particularly in the rapidly evolving AI and search markets.

Looking Ahead

As the appeal progresses, Google will continue to comply with other aspects of the 2024 ruling while seeking a judicial stay on data-sharing. The case remains one of the most closely watched antitrust battles in U.S. history, with potential consequences for digital advertising, AI innovation, and consumer choice.