Alphabet’s Google will appear in court on Monday in Alexandria, Virginia, to face U.S. antitrust prosecutors. The Justice Department aims to prove that Google stifled competition in online advertising technology. This marks the second recent legal battle between the search giant and the Justice Department.
Prosecutors Accuse Google of Dominating Online Ads
Prosecutors argue that Google controls much of the infrastructure that supports online advertising, processing over 150,000 ad sales per second. They claim the company used acquisitions, customer restrictions, and manipulated ad auctions to dominate website advertising tools.
Google Denies the Allegations
Google has denied these claims, stating that prosecutors misunderstand its efforts to develop technology and serve its customers. The company argues that the digital advertising market has shifted to apps and connected TV, where it faces strong competition.
If U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema rules against Google, prosecutors will request the sale of Google Ad Manager, which includes the company’s publisher ad server and ad exchange. In 2020, its ad tech tools generated $20 billion in revenue, or 11% of the company’s total, with Ad Manager accounting for 4.1% of that revenue.
Legal Teams and Expected Witnesses
Google’s defense is led by Karen Dunn, a partner at Paul, Weiss, who has worked with prominent Democrats like Vice President Kamala Harris. The government’s legal team is headed by Julia Tarver Wood, a veteran trial lawyer who joined the Justice Department last year.
The trial is expected to last several weeks, with witnesses from Google’s team, competitors like The Trade Desk, and publishers like News Corp and Gannett. Prosecutors argue that these companies were harmed by the firm’s actions.
Big Tech Faces Broader Antitrust Scrutiny
This case is part of a larger effort by U.S. antitrust enforcers to challenge alleged Big Tech monopolies. The Justice Department recently won a ruling against Google over its dominance in online search and is also suing Apple. The Federal Trade Commission is pursuing cases against Meta Platforms (Facebook’s parent) and Amazon.
(with inputs from Reuters)
