Google is once again under intense scrutiny—this time for allegedly dominating the digital advertising ecosystem. A Washington District Court has ruled that there’s enough merit in antitrust allegations against the tech giant, allowing a major lawsuit to proceed.
The lawsuit, spearheaded by multiple U.S. states and the federal government, accuses Google of monopolizing three crucial segments of the online ad world: publisher ad servers, ad exchanges, and advertiser tools. The concern? That most websites are left with little to no choice but to rely on Google’s ad-tech stack.
District Judge Leonie Brinkema didn’t mince words, highlighting that Google has actively used anti-competitive tactics to maintain its grip on the open-web display ad market. These tactics include unfair policies, exclusionary practices, and even removing useful features from products to limit competition.
This lawsuit is one of two major federal cases targeting Google’s practices, and experts warn it could eventually lead to a forced breakup of parts of Google’s business, should the courts rule against it.
Not Google’s First Legal Rodeo
Google’s antitrust troubles aren’t new. The company has faced fines in several countries for similar behavior. Critics argue that Google uses its suite of free services—like Gmail, Maps, and Search—as a gateway to power its massive ad revenues.
New Threat: A Phishing Scam Targeting Gmail Users
While it fends off legal battles, Google is also warning its users about a dangerous new phishing attack. The scam involves emails that appear completely legitimate, duping users into giving away their login credentials. Once compromised, victims may be at risk of identity theft and data breaches.
As Google grapples with pressure both from courts and cybercriminals, it’s clear that 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the tech titan.
