Alphabet's Google formally requested a judge to pause a court order compelling it to share sensitive data with competitors. This move precedes Google's appeal of a 2024 ruling. That ruling found the company guilty of illegally maintaining its online search monopoly.
Google argues that complying with the data-sharing requirement before the appeal concludes risks exposing valuable trade secrets. If the appeal is successful, the company states there would be no way to retract the shared information. This legal maneuver is the latest development in the high-stakes antitrust battle.
The specific part of the order Google challenges requires it to share data with rivals, including generative AI companies. Google is not seeking to delay other requirements of the ruling, such as limitations on its software preloading contracts. The Department of Justice must respond to Google's request by early February 2026.