Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a federal judge's ruling against Google in an antitrust case. The court found that Google illegally maintained a monopoly over publisher ad servers and ad exchanges. The decision concluded that Google unlawfully combined its publisher ad server and ad exchange and enacted anticompetitive policies to uphold its dominance in these markets. This case was part of a larger lawsuit from 2023, where Bonta, alongside the U.S. Department of Justice, claimed Google's control of web display ad technologies limited competition and inflated profits.

"Advertising is key to a business’s success, and Google has been playing unfairly in the advertising space. Google’s illegal control over ad tech markets has hurt consumers, small businesses, and website creators, increased prices for advertising products, reduced competition for advertising technologies, and has stifled creativity in a space where innovation is crucial,” said Attorney General Bonta. “As the fifth largest economy in the world, California has an outsized role in protecting competition and a vibrant economy where business can thrive on merits, not on illegal business practices — today, we’ve done just that."

The next phase will see the parties return to court to discuss potential remedies for Google's conduct. California and other plaintiffs aim to halt Google’s anticompetitive actions and enforce measures to negate the benefits derived from its unlawful practices and prevent further competitive harm.

Attorney General Bonta has shown continued dedication to consumer and competition protection in the tech industry. In August 2024, he hailed a federal judge's ruling against Google's monopolistic control over internet search services. In September 2022, he filed a lawsuit against Amazon, accusing it of hampering competition and manipulating prices through anticompetitive contracts.

The California Department of Justice emphasizes the importance of antitrust enforcement to sustain a healthy economy, helping consumers by maintaining fair pricing and a variety of product choices. The department recently launched an Antitrust Complaint Form for reporting potentially illegal anticompetitive conduct.

A copy of the court decision is available for public review.