A federal judge rejects the US government’s request to break up Google’s online advertising technology business, instead ordering operational changes. In a Sept. 2 ruling unsealed on Sept. 16, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema declines to require a sale of Google’s ad exchange or related ad server assets.
Brinkema’s decision follows an April 2025 finding that Google maintained illegal monopolies in two ad tech markets—publisher ad servers and ad exchanges. Sources say the judge concludes that remedies based on new rules are sufficient to open competition and reduce the risk of Google reverting to anticompetitive conduct. The court also orders a compliance monitor and technical oversight for six years.
Across outlets, the main point of difference is emphasis: some describe the ruling as “avoiding a breakup,” while others focus on the scale of required changes, such as competition-facing access to bidding and auction-related data, and limits on conduct that could steer advertisers or publishers toward Google services. The Department of Justice and some states argued for divestiture and broader disclosure, but the judge instead limits the remedies largely to conduct restrictions and monitoring, without ending ownership of the ad tech units.
