Google Appeals US Court Decision on Search Domination

Google entered another legal battle against the US Department of Justice (DoJ). The new clash is related to a local court’s historic ruling that the company created a monopoly in search.

The search giant argued in a statement that a district court decision in August 2024 failed to account for the choices users make, the speed of technological development, and increased competition in the search sector. Google is seeking a stay on proposed remedies covering the sharing of search data and the provision of syndicated services to rivals.

“These mandates would risk Americans’ privacy and discourage competitors from building their own products,” VP of regulatory affairs Lee-Anne Mulholland said. She argued that suppressing competitors’ efforts would mean the US losing a frontrunning position in the global technology sector. Mulholland reiterated the company’s view that the original court ruling ignored the reality that people use Google because they want to, not because they’re forced to.

The executive said Google faces competition from established players and well-funded start-ups, a business environment the company believes the court failed to comprehend. Mulholland added that the court discounted compelling testimony from browser companies, including Apple and Mozilla, which she said cited the quality of search experience as their reason for picking Google.

It previously proposed that companies, including Apple and Mozilla, should be given a choice of search engines, one of a number of remedies it suggested to the court’s decision. Google also mooted dropping requirements to preload Search and Chrome on Android devices, along with stringent oversight measures for the court to enforce rather than the US government.