Google on Trial: The Beginning of Big Tech’s Breakup?

A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Google illegally monopolized the digital advertising market, marking a major win for antitrust regulators.

The court found that Google used its dominance to harm competitors and inflate ad prices by tying its tools, like its ad server and exchange, into restrictive contracts.

While acquisitions like DoubleClick were not deemed illegal on their own, the judge said Google’s later use of them violated competition laws. Google plans to appeal, insisting it “won half the case.”

The decision could allow the U.S. government to force the tech giant to sell off major parts of its ad business.