Judge Allows Google to Keep Ad Business but Orders Operational Changes

The U.S. Justice Department has pursued antitrust actions against Google’s advertising operations through two major lawsuits, one initiated in 2020 focused on search dominance and another in 2023 targeting Google’s ad-technology business. Both cases alleged that Google holds an illegal monopoly over the digital advertising market. Courts have largely agreed with the government’s position, with rulings in 2024 declaring Google’s search and ad businesses monopolistic. Despite these findings, efforts to break up Google’s business have been limited. In 2025, a judge declined to force Google to divest its Chrome browser and Android operating system but required the company to end exclusive default search deals and share data with competitors. This week, a similar approach was taken in the ad-tech case. Federal Judge Leonie M. Brinkema ruled that Google could keep its advertising business but must modify its practices to support competition. Specific details on the required changes were not disclosed, as the full ruling remains sealed for redactions. Google described the decision as a positive outcome, emphasizing the importance of its tools for small businesses. The case highlights concerns over Google's use of exclusive agreements with device manufacturers and revenue-sharing deals with mobile carriers, which have helped maintain its dominant position as the default search engine and bolstered its advertising reach. The ruling signals a shift from structural remedies toward operational adjustments aimed at increasing market fairness in the complex online advertising ecosystem.