Google has submitted an appeal against the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust lawsuit, which resulted in a federal court's determination that the firm holds a dominant position in the search market. In parallel with the appeal proceedings, Google is seeking a temporary suspension of the case's prescribed measures, such as the obligation to distribute search information to competing entities.
In its official response, Google noted, 'We have consistently maintained that the August 2024 judgment overlooked the fact that users select Google voluntarily, rather than under compulsion.' The statement added that the ruling overlooked the swift advancements in technology and fierce rivalry from major companies as well as generously backed new ventures. It also downplayed evidence presented by browser developers including Apple and Mozilla, who explained their preference for integrating Google due to its superior search capabilities for end-users.
Google argues that the mandate to offer syndication support to competitors and disclose search details poses threats to user privacy and might deter rivals from developing independent solutions. These provisions represent moderated versions of the Justice Department's initial demands, which had called for Google to divest its Chrome browser.
Following a trial spanning 10 weeks in 2023, the 2024 verdict established Google's search market dominance, citing its status as the preset search option across various devices and its influence over advertising displayed in search outcomes. These elements formed central aspects of the Department of Justice's complaint filed in 2020.