A U.S. federal judge ruled that Google has illegally monopolized two key markets in online advertising technology, according to a decision announced on Thursday (April 17). The ruling by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia marks a significant setback for Google, as it supports the U.S. Department of Justice’s claims that the tech giant has unlawfully dominated the publisher ad server and ad exchange markets.
The decision could lead to the breakup of Google’s advertising products, with the Department of Justice pushing for the company to divest its Google Ad Manager, which includes the ad server and ad exchange components. Google is also facing a separate trial next week regarding its Chrome browser and online search dominance.
The ruling follows a three-week trial where prosecutors argued that Google used monopoly-building tactics, such as acquiring competitors and controlling online ad transactions, to maintain its dominance. Google contended that the case overlooked competition from other tech companies and focused on outdated practices. Despite the ruling, Google plans to appeal the decision, with Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Lee-Anne Mulholland stating, “We won half of this case and we will appeal the other half.”
The decision is part of a broader regulatory effort to limit the power of major tech companies, including Apple, Meta, and Amazon. The outcome of this case could reshape the landscape of online advertising and influence future antitrust actions against other tech giants.
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