A federal judge in the United States has set a jury trial for a
lawsuit
against
on September 9, 2024. The US Justice Department and a coalition of states filed the lawsuit, alleging that Google violated US antitrust regulations by unlawfully monopolising the digital advertising sector. The trial will take place in Virginia.
The Department of Justice, along with Virginia and other states, had requested a July trial date. However, the US District Judge Leonie Brinkema has denied the request, stating that a summer trial would have presented logistical challenges.
The lawsuit, filed early last year after allegations made against Google in January 2023, claims that Google exploited its dominant position in digital advertising technology to establish a monopoly, ultimately stifling competition and harming market dynamics. The government's remedy seeks the divestiture of Google's ad manager suite. They claimed that Google's actions increased costs for advertisers while inflating profits for the company.
The trial is crucial for Google as it prepares to defend its practices in federal court against accusations of anti-competitive behaviour. The outcome of this trial will likely shape the future regulatory framework governing tech giants' market dominance, with significant implications for the digital advertising landscape.
Google has denied the allegations against it and argues that if the lawsuit succeeds, it will impede innovation, increase advertising costs, and make it difficult for small businesses and publishers to grow.
Last year, Google faced an
antitrust trial
over its Search business. The US government's antitrust lawsuit against Google accuses the company of being a monopolist and illegally abusing its power to favour its bottom line. The court is expected to hear closing arguments in May in lawsuits from the US Justice Department, Colorado, and other states over Google's web search dominance.
Google is set to face another trial in March 2025 in a federal court in Texas. The lawsuit, filed by Texas and other states, challenges its ad tech practices.
English (US) ·