A US federal judge ruled that Google must implement internal antitrust oversight and modify its online advertising practices. While the court rejected the Department of Justice's demand to force the company to sell its advertising business, it mandated that Google provide competitors with access to its AdX real-time bidding platform.
The ruling, issued by District Judge Leonie Brinkema, follows her April 2025 determination that Google maintained an illegal monopoly in specific ad tech segments. The court concluded that these operational changes are sufficient to prevent the company from reverting to its previous business practices.
Under the new requirements, Google is prohibited from forcing websites to use AdX exclusively or restricting publishers from switching to other advertising tools. These measures will remain in effect for six years, despite the Department of Justice's initial request for a 15-year compliance period.
Google expressed disagreement with the court's findings regarding Google Ad Manager and announced plans to appeal the decision. The company maintains that divesting parts of its advertising business would negatively impact small businesses' ability to reach customers.
The Department of Justice, represented by Deputy Attorney General Stanley Woodward, described the ruling as a significant victory for competition. The agency is currently reviewing the 106-page document to determine if further legal actions are necessary.
