Google Declared Monopoly in Digital Ads by Federal Judge, Joins Search Engine in Antitrust Hot Seat

Second Major Antitrust Blow for Tech Giant as U.S. Court Rules Google’s Digital Ad Practices Illegal

Washington D.C., April 19, 2025 — In a historic ruling, Google has once again been branded an illegal monopolist, this time over its dominance in the digital advertising sector. The ruling, issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, concludes that Google exploited its control over key ad technologies to harm competition and maintain an unlawful monopoly—deepening the company’s regulatory woes.

This latest judgment follows an earlier decision last August, where Google’s search engine operations were found to be similarly abusive under antitrust laws. Both rulings mark significant milestones in the Justice Department’s efforts to rein in the power of Big Tech.

Judge Brinkema: Google Abused Its Power in Ad Tech

Judge Brinkema’s 115-page ruling lays out how Google leveraged its acquisitions and market power to tie its ad exchange and publisher ad server technologies in ways that blocked competitors and manipulated ad pricing.

“For over a decade, Google has tied its publisher ad server and ad exchange together…which enabled the company to establish and protect its monopoly power,” wrote Brinkema. She added that Google “imposed anticompetitive policies” and “eliminated desirable product features” to further entrench its dominance.

While the judge cleared Google of wrongdoing in its acquisitions of DoubleClick and Admeld, she made it clear that the way Google integrated and wielded those technologies was unlawful.

What’s Next: Potential Remedies and Chrome Sale Looms

The ruling paves the way for a penalty phase expected to begin late 2025 or early 2026, where the Justice Department will argue for remedies—including a possible forced divestiture of Google’s ad tech division.

In parallel, remedy hearings in the search monopoly case begin this Monday in D.C., where government lawyers will push for radical measures such as forcing Google to sell its Chrome web browser.

Google Responds: Plans Appeal, Denies Wrongdoing

In response to the ruling, Google strongly disagreed with the court’s conclusion. Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s VP of Regulatory Affairs, said:

“We disagree with the Court’s decision regarding our publisher tools. Publishers have many options and they choose Google because our ad tech tools are simple, affordable, and effective.”

Political and Market Fallout

The ruling marks a significant win for the Biden administration’s antitrust agenda, following the Trump-era probe that originally targeted Google Search. U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi hailed the decision as:

“A landmark victory in the ongoing fight to stop Google from monopolizing the digital public square.”

Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, saw its stock fall 1% to $151.22 following the announcement. Shares have declined 20% year-to-date, under pressure from increasing regulatory scrutiny and competition.

Impact on Publishers and Advertisers

The case highlighted how Google’s ad practices have hurt news publishers. Representatives from Gannett and News Corp testified about their dependence on Google and the lack of viable alternatives for online ad revenue.

The ad tech ecosystem, which operates through high-speed automated auctions, is critical for funding free content across the web. Now, the Justice Department may push to unwind parts of that system, potentially requiring Google to sell its Ad Manager platform—a move that would drastically reshape the online ad landscape.

Google’s Legal Strategy: Fight on All Fronts

As Google braces for further action, it also faces:

• A federal jury verdict declaring its Play Store an illegal monopoly

• Ongoing pressure from European regulators and lawsuits worldwide

• A growing challenge from emerging ad tech rivals and AI startups

Legal analysts expect lengthy appeals, with the potential for this case—and its remedies—to reach the U.S. Supreme Court within the next few years.