Google Hit with Antitrust Win in New York AG’s Suit

New York’s Attorney General Letitia James has scored a significant legal victory against tech giant Google, charging the company with maintaining illegal monopolies in the digital advertising industry.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruled in favor of the state, finding that Google violated antitrust laws by controlling nearly every aspect of online ad sales, extracting excessive fees from advertisers, and paying publishers less for their ad space.

Attorney General James led a coalition of 17 attorneys general and the Department of Justice (DOJ) in filing the lawsuit against Google in 2023. The case sought to halt Google’s anticompetitive practices that threatened market integrity in the online advertising sector.

James stated, “Google’s monopolies have allowed it to amass excessive profits at the expense of workers and businesses reliant on online advertising. This decision is a significant victory for consumers and web publishers who have been negatively impacted by Google’s actions.”

The court found Google liable for violating antitrust law by acquiring and maintaining monopolies in publisher ad server and ad exchange markets for open-web display advertising. Additionally, the judge ruled that Google’s tying of its publisher ad server to its ad exchange was unlawful, and that such practices reduced quality and increased prices, harming competition and consumers.

A second phase of the trial will determine appropriate remedies for Google’s violations. The lawsuit is a joint effort led by James, along with the attorneys general of Virginia, California, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington, and West Virginia.

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