Judge rules Google does not have to break up ad tech business

Judge Leonie Brinkema denied the Department of Justice’s demand that Google divest its AdX advertising exchange, concluding that the company need not be forced to break up its advertising technology arm. The ruling follows last year’s finding that Google held an illegal monopoly over the online ad market, but the court determined the DOJ had not provided enough evidence to justify a breakup. Google’s AdX platform, which facilitates real‑time bidding for ad inventory, remains intact, allowing the search giant to continue its dominant position in digital advertising. The decision underscores the ongoing debate over antitrust enforcement in the tech sector and the balance between regulatory action and market competition.

A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Google does not have to break up its advertising technology business after finding last year that the search giant held an illegal monopoly over the industry. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema rejected the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) request to force Google to sell off its AdX exchange business, which...