Google’s Ad Monopoly Under Microscope as Judge Weighs Remedies

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses an ongoing antitrust case against Google, focusing on its alleged monopoly in the digital advertising sector, with significant implications for the company's operations and potential penalties [1][2][3]. Group 1: Antitrust Case Details - The case centers on ad tech, which refers to the software used for buying and selling digital ads [1]. - U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema is set to hear testimonies from various stakeholders, including Google employees, advertisers, and publishers, regarding Google's monopoly in the online advertising industry [2]. - The Justice Department, along with a bipartisan coalition of 17 states, accused Google of employing illegal tactics to suppress competition in 2023 [3]. Group 2: Previous Rulings and Market Context - Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled against imposing significant changes to Google's search business, citing the emergence of AI-driven competitors [4]. - Mehta's decision allows Google to continue making payments for product distribution, although it cannot pay to be the exclusive search engine on devices and browsers [5]. - Legal experts suggest that the current case may lead to more severe penalties for Google, as the ad-tech space remains less affected by AI advancements compared to search [6].