United States of America: Announced Justice Department public lawsuit against Google over alleged anticompetitive practices and monopolisation of digital advertising technologies

On 24 January 2023, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it had filed a lawsuit against Google over the alleged monopolisation of digital advertising technology products. The DOJ filed the lawsuit alongside the Attorneys General of Colorado, Connecticut, California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Tennessee, New York and Virginia for alleged violation of the Sherman Act, section Sections 1 and 2. Firstly, the lawsuit claims that Google acquired competitors and entities that could become its competitors in order to increase its control over the digital advertising tools that website publishers use to offer advertising space for sale. Secondly, the lawsuit alleges that Google engaged in practices to "force" the website publishers to use the tools offered by Google by providing real-time access to its advertising exchange based on the use of the publisher ad server. By doing so, Google is alleged to have treated its own ad tech products in a preferential manner. Thirdly, the DOJ claims that Google intentionally distorted competition in advertising auctioning by limiting the real-time bidding on publisher inventory to its advertising exchange and restricting access to its competitors. Finally, the lawsuit alleges that Google engaged in auction manipulation. The DOJ is asking the court for relief for individuals and entities affected by the anticompetitive conduct and for the losses the Federal Government Agencies registered for overpaying for web display advertising.