A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Google illegally built monopoly power in its online advertising business, siding with the Department of Justice in a landmark antitrust case that could force the tech giant to break up parts of its empire.
The decision, handed down on Thursday by Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia, found that Google’s control over both sides of the digital ad market — the tools for publishers and advertisers — gave it an unfair advantage that harmed rivals and consumers.
It marks the second major court win against Google in under a year and the third since late 2023, when a jury declared its app store to be an illegal monopoly.
At the heart of the ruling is Google’s $31 billion ad tech “stack,” a suite of tools used to match online ads with web publishers. The court found that Google tied together its ad server and publisher exchange in a way that locked out competitors and allowed it to “establish and protect” its dominance.
The DOJ argued that the setup created a structural conflict of interest, letting Google manipulate outcomes in its own favour — a view Judge Brinkema agreed with.
Google may now be required to divest part of its advertising business, though the company said it would appeal.
“We won half of this case and will appeal the other half,” said Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. She noted the court had rejected claims tied to Google’s advertiser tools and acquisitions like DoubleClick.
The ruling adds to growing pressure on Google’s parent company, Alphabet, which is already facing regulatory scrutiny in the U.S. and Europe.
Critics have long warned that Google’s dominance in digital advertising raises prices for businesses and reduces visibility for smaller publishers. The Justice Department echoed that, stating Google’s behaviour “substantially harmed” publishers and the broader online information ecosystem.
The case also underscores a wider crackdown on Big Tech, as U.S. regulators ramp up efforts to rein in the power of companies like Meta, Amazon and Apple. Just this week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared in court over separate antitrust claims targeting the company’s acquisition practices.
While Google maintains that its tools benefit publishers, the court’s decision signals a new chapter in the government's antitrust fight — one that could alter how digital advertising works across the open web.
Google announced a new “AI Mode” for its search engine in the United States, aiming to make searching feel more like talking to an expert who can answer almost any question.
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Google is facing a landmark antitrust trial beginning Monday, as U.S. officials seek to break up the tech giant's dominance in the search engine market.
Google plans to appeal parts of a recent U.S. court ruling that found it had unlawfully maintained monopoly power in parts of the online ad market, specifically in publisher ad servers and ad exchanges, while the court dismissed other antitrust claims.
China has dismissed the recent decision by Google to rename parts of the disputed South China Sea, which now labels maritime areas near the Philippines as the West Philippine Sea.
An Azerbaijani delegation attended the opening ceremony of the 30th Shanghai Television Festival, one of Asia’s most prestigious media events, held in China’s Shanghai city on June 23.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met King Charles at Windsor Castle on Monday during a short visit to the UK aimed at strengthening defense ties and increasing pressure on Russia.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Iran, and Israel could dismantle the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, calling for an urgent return to diplomacy and inspections.
Following U.S. military strikes on Iran, at least two supertankers reversed course near the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting heightened fears of disruption in one of the world’s most vital oil shipping lanes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities as unjustified and warned they are driving the world toward heightened instability. He met with Iran’s foreign minister in Moscow, offering support while calling for efforts to ease tensions.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met King Charles at Windsor Castle on Monday during a short visit to the UK aimed at strengthening defense ties and increasing pressure on Russia.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Iran, and Israel could dismantle the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, calling for an urgent return to diplomacy and inspections.
Following U.S. military strikes on Iran, at least two supertankers reversed course near the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting heightened fears of disruption in one of the world’s most vital oil shipping lanes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities as unjustified and warned they are driving the world toward heightened instability. He met with Iran’s foreign minister in Moscow, offering support while calling for efforts to ease tensions.
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An Azerbaijani delegation attended the opening ceremony of the 30th Shanghai Television Festival, one of Asia’s most prestigious media events, held in China’s Shanghai city on June 23.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met King Charles at Windsor Castle on Monday during a short visit to the UK aimed at strengthening defense ties and increasing pressure on Russia.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Iran, and Israel could dismantle the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, calling for an urgent return to diplomacy and inspections.
Following U.S. military strikes on Iran, at least two supertankers reversed course near the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting heightened fears of disruption in one of the world’s most vital oil shipping lanes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities as unjustified and warned they are driving the world toward heightened instability. He met with Iran’s foreign minister in Moscow, offering support while calling for efforts to ease tensions.
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