Google is challenging a federal court ruling that deemed it an illegal monopolist in the online search industry. The tech giant has filed an appeal to halt the court-ordered remedies aimed at restoring competition in the online search market.

In a blog post, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs, Lee-Anne Mulholland, criticized the court’s ruling, stating that people choose to use Google willingly and not out of compulsion. Mulholland highlighted the intense competition and innovation in the search market, citing support from browser makers like Apple and Mozilla who prefer Google for its search quality.

Google is pushing for a pause on the remedies that would require it to share search data with competitors, arguing that such measures could jeopardize user privacy and hinder innovation. The company believes that delaying these actions would prevent any adverse impact on the U.S. technological advancement.

The federal Judge Amit Mehta’s 2024 ruling found Google guilty of maintaining an illegal monopoly in general search services and text advertising. Mehta highlighted Google’s anticompetitive practices in securing exclusive contracts with phone manufacturers and browsers to promote its search products as the default option.

Despite the ruling, Mehta stopped short of breaking up Google as the DOJ had hoped. Instead, he ordered the company to share search information with competitors to facilitate fair competition in the search market.

Google waited for Mehta’s remedies ruling before appealing the monopoly finding, extending the legal battle that could potentially reach the Supreme Court in the coming years.