WASHINGTON — A federal judge has denied Alphabet Inc.'s request to temporarily halt an order that mandates the tech giant to provide competitors with access to its underlying search data while it appeals a landmark antitrust ruling. The decision, issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, keeps the remedy on track despite Google's objections.
Judge Cites Lack of Imminent Harm
In his ruling, Mehta stated that any data sharing is still months away, meaning Google faces no immediate risk of harm. "As of today, neither the court nor the parties have any concrete point of reference for the harms the data-sharing and syndication provisions may precipitate," Mehta wrote. He added that the government's "rosy estimate" of when these remedies will be available depends on relatively conflict-free negotiations, which is far from assured.
Background of the Case
Mehta ruled in August 2024 that Google illegally monopolized the online search market through exclusive contracts with Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., requiring its search engine as the default. These deals, worth over US$20 billion annually, blocked rivals from key distribution channels. After a second trial in 2025, Mehta rejected a bid to force the sale of Google's Chrome browser but required that default search deals be rebid annually to allow more competition. He also ordered Google to share a one-time snapshot of its search data with some rivals to help them build competing search engines or AI products.
Implementation and Next Steps
Implementing the ruling is a significant undertaking. The parties are establishing a technical committee to oversee the process, with two spots still to be filled. The plaintiffs estimate data sharing could begin by fall or winter. Mehta ordered the Justice Department and state attorneys general to notify the court 45 days before any data sharing starts, at which point Google can renew its request to pause the order. Meanwhile, briefs on the appeal are expected through the end of October, with no hearing date set.
