Google withdrew its bid to intervene in the government’s lawsuit challenging AT&T’s proposed purchase of T-Mobile USA, citing a new order on how confidential data will be handled in the case to protect business secrets. Google referred to an order signed by US District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle that said a so-called non-party must be given notice when confidential material is submitted in the case.

In September, Google, which provided the information to the Justice Department for its investigation of the proposed T- Mobile deal, claimed that “without such additional protection, Google and other non-parties could find their confidential information — such as Google’s business plans related to Android — in the hands of competitors.”