Key points:
- Google accused of monopolizing digital advertising market
- Google paid $2.3 million to eight federal agencies
Alphabet’s Google is scheduled to face a bench trial in an antitrust case filed by the US Justice Department. The case accuses Google of monopolizing the digital advertising market and overcharging the federal government for ads. The lawsuit, filed in 2023, primarily aims to dismantle Google’s digital advertising business to foster more competition.
The trial is slated to commence in September, with US District Judge Leonie Brinkema presiding. This development follows Google’s $2.3 million payment to the federal government, which satisfied the damages claimed by eight federal agencies. This payment negated the need for a jury trial.
However, Google has refuted any wrongdoing. The tech giant clarified that the damages payment does not imply an admission of liability.