Google is once again under fire for alleged monopolistic behavior. In a significant legal setback, a federal judge has ruled that the tech giant maintains an illegal monopoly over advertising technology—marking the second time a court has found Google in violation of U.S. antitrust laws.
Judge Brinkema’s Ruling
Judge Leonie Brinkema of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia delivered the ruling Thursday, siding with the U.S. Department of Justice and 17 state attorneys general. The lawsuit accused Google of acquiring competitors and manipulating digital ad auctions to dominate the online advertising market.
“For over a decade, Google has tied its publisher ad server and ad exchange together through contractual policies and technological integration,” Brinkema wrote. This behavior, she said, allowed Google to “establish and protect its monopoly power” in key areas of the adtech sector.
Anticompetitive Practices Detailed
The court found that Google’s tactics went beyond standard competition, imposing restrictive policies on customers and eliminating useful features from its products—moves that further tightened its grip on the market.
“In addition to depriving rivals of the ability to compete,” Brinkema noted, “this exclusionary conduct substantially harmed Google’s publisher customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web.”
What Comes Next? A Potential Breakup
A court hearing will be scheduled to determine the appropriate remedy. Among the possible outcomes is a forced breakup of Google’s advertising technology business—an action that could reshape the digital advertising landscape and give companies like The Trade Desk and Magnite a stronger footing.
Legal Trouble Piling Up for Google
This decision comes just months after another federal judge, Amit Mehta of Washington, D.C., ruled that Google violated antitrust laws with its dominance in online search. That case is also heading into a remedy phase, with the potential for further structural changes to Google’s operations.
Google’s Silence
As of now, Google has not responded to the latest ruling.
Implications for the Industry
These back-to-back antitrust decisions suggest mounting legal pressure on one of the world’s most powerful tech companies, with far-reaching implications for the future of the digital economy.
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