WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, The Tech Oversight Project issued the following statement in response to Google’s second monopoly conviction – this time in the ad tech market. Judge Brinkema found that, “Google has violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act by willfully acquiring and maintaining monopoly power in open-web display publisher ad server market and the open-web display ad exchange market, and has unlawfully tied its publisher ad server and ad exchange in violations of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act.”
“For years, Google wielded unchecked monopoly power over the digital advertising market – using it to suffocate the media industry and force middleman taxes on everything we buy online. The result is that our internet is less open and free, and civic discourse has irreparably been damaged by killing the local news we need to operate a vibrant democracy. This ruling is an unequivocal win for the American people that will help lower prices, increase competition, and lead to a better internet for everyone,” said Sacha Haworth, Executive Director of The Tech Oversight Project.