US asks judge to break up Google's ad tech business

Core Viewpoint - The US government is demanding the breakup of Google's ad technology business due to a judge's ruling that the company holds an illegal monopoly in the ad market [3][4]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - A federal court in Virginia is hearing the case, with a trial phase scheduled for September 22 to discuss remedies for the ad market [5]. - The US government has previously argued that Google controls the market for publishing banner ads, affecting many small news providers and creators [5][6]. - The judge, Leonie Brinkema, agreed that Google has built an illegal monopoly over ad software but partially dismissed claims regarding tools used by advertisers [6]. Group 2: Government's Position - The US government is advocating for Google to divest its ad publisher and exchange operations, citing a lack of trust in Google's ability to change its monopolistic behavior [7]. - Government lawyer Julia Tarver Wood emphasized that behavioral remedies are insufficient to prevent Google from re-establishing dominance [8]. Group 3: Google's Defense - Google has proposed a binding commitment to share information with advertisers and publishers on its ad tech platforms, acknowledging trust issues raised in the case [8]. - The company argues that breaking up its ad platforms could pose data security risks for publishers and advertisers [9]. - Google contends that calls for divestment are inappropriate, a stance that the judge has rejected [9]. Group 4: Financial Implications - The ad technology business is a significant part of Google's overall online advertising revenue, which funds its free services like Maps, Gmail, and search [10]. - The revenue generated also supports Google's investments in artificial intelligence initiatives [10].