A US court has found Google unlawfully monopolised online advertising technology.
Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled the tech giant “wilfully engaged in a series of anticompetitive acts” to dominate the digital ad market.
The US Department of Justice and 17 states argued Google leveraged its control over both the buying and selling sides of online ads, harming publishers and consumers.
The court found Google tied its publisher ad server (DFP) to its ad exchange (AdX), violating antitrust laws.
This marks Google’s second major antitrust loss in a year, following a 2024 ruling on its search engine dominance.
Google plans to appeal. “Publishers have many options and they choose Google because our ad tech tools are simple, affordable and effective,” said Lee-Ann Mulholland, head of regulatory affairs.
The next phase of the trial will determine remedies, potentially including the divestiture of parts of Google’s ad business.
Industry experts suggest the ruling could reshape the digital advertising landscape, affecting revenue distribution among advertisers, publishers, and ad service providers.
