US Judge Rules Google Violated Antitrust Laws in Ad Tech Market

In a major blow to Google, a U.S. federal judge has ruled that the company illegally monopolized parts of the online advertising technology market. The court found that Google tied together its ad exchange and publisher ad server tools, limiting competition and hurting publishers—actions that violate key provisions of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

The ruling could have serious implications for Google’s advertising empire, which makes up a significant portion of its revenue. The U.S. Justice Department is now pushing for remedies that may include forcing Google to divest parts of its ad tech business. Google has said it will appeal the ruling, defending its tools as effective and cost-efficient for publishers.