A federal judge has declared Google’s digital advertising network an illegal monopoly, marking the second time within a year that the company has been found guilty of monopolistic practices.
The recent ruling, delivered by a court in the United States, accused Google of abusing its dominant position in the digital ad sector to suppress competition and maintain monopoly power.
The court found Google liable for violating antitrust laws through its advertising technology services.
The judge ruled that Google had willfully acquired and maintained monopoly power in the markets for publisher ad servers and ad exchanges, which facilitate transactions between buyers and sellers in online advertising.
The U.S. Department of Justice and several state attorneys general have been pursuing cases against major tech companies, including Google, for allegedly engaging in anticompetitive behavior.
Google has consistently defended its business practices, arguing that its services benefit consumers and businesses alike.
The company has stated that it competes fairly in the markets where it operates and provides valuable tools and services to its users. Despite these defenses, Google faces increasing legal challenges and regulatory scrutiny across the world.