On November 25, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema heard closing arguments in a high-profile antitrust case against Google concerning its advertising practices.
Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyer Aaron Teitelbaum accused Google of monopolistic behavior, claiming the company "rigged" ad auctions and controlled multiple aspects of its ad services, which he argued unfairly benefited the tech giant across three markets.
Teitelbaum characterized Google as a "predator" that left publishers with no viable alternatives for ad revenue. He cited a testimony from News Corp. that described the organization feeling "held hostage" by the risk of losing significant revenue if it left Google's advertising platform.
In response, Google's lead lawyer, Karen Dunn, contended that the company's practices represented innovation rather than monopolistic behavior. The DOJ's case hinges on the assertion that Google controls 87% of the online advertising market.
Judge Brinkema is expected to deliver a ruling before the end of the year, with potential remedy hearings scheduled for early 2025.