Google is set to face another significant legal challenge as the Justice Department’s antitrust case against the company’s ad-tech practices heads to trial.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Google is facing its second federal antitrust lawsuit in less than a year, with the latest case focusing on the company’s alleged monopolistic practices in the digital advertising market. The trial, set to begin with opening statements today before U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, marks a significant escalation in the U.S. government’s efforts to rein in the tech giant’s market dominance.
The Justice Department’s case alleges that Google has an unlawful grip on the market for software used to buy and sell digital ads, known as ad-tech. This lawsuit comes just weeks after a judge ruled that the company stifled competition in the search market, highlighting the mounting legal pressure Google faces from the U.S. government.
The ad-tech case is particularly significant because it targets the core of Google’s business model. Digital advertising accounts for a substantial portion of the company’s revenue, and the Justice Department alleges that Google has used its market power to unfairly dominate this lucrative sector.
