A U.S. District Judge ruled that Google acted illegally to sustain its monopoly in online advertising technology, which harmed competitors and consumers. The Justice Department, alongside several states, sued Google, arguing that its dominance allowed higher pricing and reduced competition across the ad technology system. Judge Brinkema stated that Googleâs conduct not only hurt rival businesses but also adversely affected its publisher customers and the competitive market. This ruling follows an earlier judgment regarding Google's monopoly in online search, leading to potential major changes in the company's structure and market power.
Google violated the Sherman Antitrust Act "by willfully acquiring and maintaining monopoly power" in the online technology ad industry, the court said.
This exclusionary conduct substantially harmed Google's publisher customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web, Judge Brinkema said.
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