Google Battles to Pause Data-Sharing Mandate Amid Monopoly Ruling

Google has requested a delay in data-sharing with competitors following a court ruling declaring its online search monopoly illegal. The company argues that sharing data risks revealing trade secrets. It aims to appeal the ruling, contesting the measures imposed by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta.

Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has made a formal plea to halt a judge's directive requiring it to share data with rival firms. The company, accused of maintaining an illegal monopoly in online search, seeks to contest the ruling from a federal district court in Washington.

Judge Amit Mehta's decision in 2024 demanded that Google take measures to balance competition, including sharing data with companies like OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT. Google's legal team argues that such sharing could lead to the exposure of critical trade secrets.

To safeguard its interests, Google is pushing for a pause in the data-sharing order while it pursues an appeal. This move underscores the high-stakes legal battle over competitive practices in the tech sector, with significant implications for market dynamics and business strategies.

(With inputs from agencies.)