US judge finds Google illegally monopolised online advertising markets
22/04/2025 | Reuters
A US District Judge in the state of Virginia has ruled that Alphabet's Google illegally dominates two markets within the online advertising technology sector. Judge Leonie Brinkema found Google liable for "willfully acquiring and maintaining monopoly power" in the markets for publisher ad servers and ad exchanges, which facilitate the connection between ad buyers and sellers. The ruling paves the way for a future hearing to determine the necessary steps Google must take to restore competition in these markets, potentially including the forced sale of parts of its ad business. Judge Brinkema stated that Google's exclusionary conduct not only hindered rivals but also significantly harmed its publisher customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information online.
While the ruling favoured antitrust prosecutors on the publisher ad servers and ad exchanges markets, it did not find Google to have a monopoly in advertiser ad networks.
Google has confirmed that it intends to appeal the ruling.
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