A US judge has decided against the Department of Justice’s attempt to compel Google to divest its advertising exchange platform, AdX. This ruling permits Google to maintain a critical segment of its advertising technology operations. Judge Leonie Brinkema’s decision came while she approved most other proposed limitations on Google’s conduct, following a 2025 judgment that found the tech giant had unlawfully sustained monopolies in the realms of publisher ad servers and advertising exchanges.
The Justice Department, alongside multiple US states, argued that Google’s historical actions warranted the company no longer having control over AdX. They contended that Google’s monopolistic practices in the advertising sector should lead to a forced sale of the platform. However, Google countered that severing AdX would be technically challenging and could potentially disrupt services for its customers.
This ruling signifies another hurdle for US antitrust authorities who have been trying to dismantle large technology corporations. Similar efforts aimed at other tech giants have also struggled to achieve mandated asset sales, reflecting the complexities involved in regulating such powerful entities.
Despite pressure from antitrust authorities, the court’s decision allows Google to retain its advertising exchange operations. However, it does impose behavioral restrictions designed to address issues related to competition and how the company interacts with publishers. These measures are intended to mitigate concerns over Google’s dominance in the digital advertising market.