A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Google operates illegal monopolies in the digital ad market, marking a significant blow to the tech giant. Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia found Google in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act on April 17, 2025.
The ruling stems from a lawsuit by the Justice Department, which accused Google of harming competition. The court determined that Google holds an illegal monopoly over the online publisher ad server and ad exchange markets. However, the court did not find Google guilty of monopolizing the advertiser ad network market.
The Justice Department seeks to force Google to sell off parts of its ad tech business, including Google Ad Manager. A second trial phase will determine remedies, potentially including a divestiture. This ruling follows a previous finding that Google has an illegal monopoly in the online search market. Google intends to appeal the decision. The case highlights concerns about Google's dominance affecting publishers and consumers, and the court's decision could lead to significant changes in the digital advertising landscape.