In another significant blow to the tech giant, a federal judge has ruled that Google holds an unlawful monopoly in two key digital advertising markets.
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema concluded on Thursday that Google violated antitrust laws by deliberately acquiring and maintaining monopoly power in the online advertising space. The judge also found that Google unlawfully tied its ad products together to preserve its dominant position.
This decision marks the second major antitrust ruling against Google within the past year. In August, another federal judge, Amit Mehta, determined that the company had illegally monopolized online search and advertising markets over the last decade.
The ruling adds to Google’s mounting legal and political challenges in Washington. Next week, Judge Mehta will review the Justice Department’s request to break up Google’s control of the search market. Meanwhile, congressional Republicans continue to pressure the company over allegations of political bias, intensifying the scrutiny from lawmakers.
The advertising case now proceeds to the remedies phase, during which the court will consider potential penalties and structural changes. The Department of Justice is pushing for a breakup of Google’s advertising technology business as part of the resolution.
