Google Appeals 'Search Market Monopoly' Ruling: "Consumers Chose Us by Their Own Will"

Google Requests Suspension of Court-Ordered Remedies
Including "Sharing Search Data with Competitors"

Google, the world's largest search engine company, announced on January 16 (local time) that it has filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit regarding the case.

Lee-Ann Mulholland, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, explained the reasons for the appeal, criticizing the August 2024 ruling by the district court that recognized Google’s monopoly in the search market, saying, "The court ignored the fact that people use Google out of their own choice, not because they are forced to."

She further criticized the court for disregarding testimony from web browser developers such as Apple and Mozilla, who stated that they chose Google because it provides consumers with the highest quality search experience. This suggests that smartphone manufacturers and web browsers did not simply set Google as the default search engine in exchange for payment.

Google also requested a suspension of the remedies ordered by the district court-such as sharing search data with competitors-while the appeal is underway. Google argued that these remedies threaten the privacy of American citizens.

Industry observers estimate that it will take about a year for a decision to be reached in this appeal case.

Previously, in October 2020, during the first administration of Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google. Judge Amit Mehta, who presided over the first trial, ruled in August 2024 that Google is a monopoly and that its payments to Apple, Samsung Electronics, and others to set its search engine as the default were illegal.

Judge Mehta subsequently decided in September of last year that Google would not be required to sell its smartphone operating system, Android, or its web browser, Chrome.

However, in order to promote competition in the online search market, he ordered Google to share search data with its competitors.

Meanwhile, during the course of this lawsuit, President Donald Trump’s stance toward Google changed significantly. While he had previously criticized Google during his first administration for allegedly manipulating search results or being left-leaning, by the end of 2024 he expressed concern that breaking up Google could weaken America’s competitiveness.