A US federal judge ruled that Google illegally monopolized the online advertising market, potentially forcing the tech giant to sell its Google Ad Manager. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) accused Google of anti-competitive practices, arguing that its control over key ad tools stifled competition.
The judge stated that Google deliberately maintained its dominance by restricting rivals and harming publishers, advertisers, and consumers. The DOJ may now push for Google’s breakup, including divesting its ad management division.
Google’s ad tools—publisher ad servers, advertiser platforms, and ad exchanges—are widely used, making it difficult for competitors to thrive. This ruling follows another pending case where the DOJ seeks to force Google to sell its Chrome browser and reduce its search engine dominance.
Google plans to appeal, but the decision could reshape the digital advertising landscape. The case highlights ongoing legal challenges facing major tech firms over market control.
