The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has ruled that Google violated the antitrust law by monopolizing open web digital advertising markets.
The technology company, according to the court, “harmed Google’s publishing customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web.”
The Department of Justice on Thursday announced the “landmark victory” of its Antitrust Division in the second monopolization case against Google.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi expressed the resolution of the United States government to stop Google from exerting influence over the digital community.
The DOJ will “continue taking bold legal action to protect the American people from encroachments on free speech and free markets by tech companies,” Bondi assured in a statement.
Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the DOJ’s Antitrust Division said the court’s ruling portrayed Google as “a monopolist” that has abused its monopoly power.
Slater noted that the “unlawful dominance” allows them to ”censor and deplatform” Americans, accusing the tech giant of destroying the “information that exposed its illegal conduct.”
“Today’s opinion confirms Google’s controlling hand over online advertising and, increasingly, the internet itself,” Slater said of the verdict issued after a trial in September 2024.
In January 2023, the Justice Department and Attorneys General of several states sued Google for monopolizing crucial digital advertising technologies, commonly known as the “ad tech stack.”
Website publishers use ad tech stack, a collection of technologies and tools, to buy, sell and optimize digital advertising campaigns to reach millions of customers.
Google was accused of subverting competition by neutralizing rivals for more than 15 years through acquisitions and anti competitive auction manipulation.
