A US judge has ruled that Google illegally holds monopoly power in two key online advertising markets, dealing a major blow to the tech giant. The decision clears the path for potential breakups of Google’s ad tech business.
Judge Leonie Brinkema found that Google “willfully acquired and maintained monopoly power” in the publisher ad server and ad exchange markets — critical tools for websites to sell digital ads.
Also Read: Google rolls out Veo 2 for AI-powered text-to-video creation
The ruling follows another court’s earlier judgment against Google for monopolizing online search. The Justice Department may now push for Google to sell off parts of its ad business, including Google Ad Manager.
While the court rejected a separate monopoly claim over advertiser networks, Google plans to appeal the decision. The company said publishers still choose its tools for their simplicity and effectiveness.
The case is part of a broader antitrust crackdown that includes Apple, Amazon, Meta, and others — signalling a bipartisan push for tougher tech regulation in the US.
