U.S. judge rules Google illegally dominated online ad markets

A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Google unlawfully maintained monopoly power in two key digital advertising markets, marking a significant step in the Department of Justice’s antitrust case against the tech giant. The decision found Google violated competition laws in the markets for publisher ad servers and ad exchanges, tools that help websites manage and sell digital ads.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema stated that Google’s actions harmed competitors, publishers, and ultimately consumers. The ruling allows the DOJ to pursue structural remedies, including potentially forcing Google to sell parts of its ad business such as Google Ad Manager.
However, the court dismissed a separate claim that Google had a monopoly in advertiser ad networks. Google said it plans to appeal the ruling.

The DOJ has argued that Google used anti-competitive practices, including bundling services and locking in customers, to stifle rivals. The decision follows a previous ruling against Google’s dominance in online search.
The case is part of a broader U.S. push to rein in Big Tech, with other companies like Meta, Amazon, and Apple also facing antitrust challenges. Shares of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, dropped 1.4% following the news.