Google Faces Potential Breakup After Antitrust Ruling

A federal judge has ruled that Google illegally maintained monopolies in key parts of the online advertising technology sector, specifically in the markets for publisher ad servers and ad exchanges. The court found that Google tied its publisher ad server and ad exchange businesses together, harming competition, publishers, and consumers of information on the open web. While the ruling dismissed claims that Google monopolized advertiser ad networks, the decision still exposes Google to potential remedies, including forcing the company to divest its publisher ad server and ad exchange products. The Department of Justice, joined by several states, argued that such actions are necessary to restore competition in digital advertising. Google has stated it will appeal the decision, highlighting that it won part of the case regarding advertiser tools and acquisitions. The ruling is seen as a significant step toward addressing Google’s dominance and could have broader implications for the digital advertising ecosystem and the sustainability of online journalism.