U.S. Court Finds Google Guilty of Monopolizing Online Advertising Market

A U.S. federal court has ruled that tech giant Google violated antitrust laws by monopolizing the digital advertising market, marking a major legal victory for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

The decision, issued by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, concluded that Google’s dominance in online advertising harmed publishers, stifled competition, and negatively impacted consumers who rely on free and open access to information on the internet.

In a statement on Thursday, the DOJ described the ruling as a “landmark victory” in its second monopolization case against the company. The lawsuit, originally filed in January 2023 by the DOJ alongside several state attorneys general, accused Google of maintaining an illegal grip on the digital advertising ecosystem – particularly through its control of the “ad tech stack,” a suite of tools used by websites to manage and optimize online ads.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi reiterated the government’s commitment to holding tech companies accountable for anticompetitive behavior. “We are determined to stop powerful platforms from using their influence to undermine free markets and limit free speech,” she said.

Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater, who leads the DOJ’s Antitrust Division, said the court’s findings underscored Google’s long-standing abuse of its dominant position. “The court has confirmed that Google wields overwhelming control over digital advertising and, by extension, a significant part of the internet,” Slater said. “This unlawful dominance enables the company to suppress dissent, manipulate markets, and erase information that reveals its misconduct.”

According to the court, Google has spent over 15 years acquiring rivals and manipulating ad auctions to entrench its power and block competition. The ruling follows a trial held in September 2024, during which federal prosecutors laid out extensive evidence of anti-competitive practices.

As enforcement actions ramp up against Big Tech, the verdict signals a shift in how regulators are tackling market concentration in the digital economy. The DOJ said it will continue to pursue aggressive legal strategies to restore competition and protect American consumers online.