GoKawiilJudge Brinkema lets Google keep ad-tech business, orders behavioral fixes instead
Federal judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that Google will not be forced to sell off its advertising technology business, despite an earlier finding that the unit constituted an illegal monopoly. Instead, Google must change certain business practices to give competitors fairer access, though the ruling did not specify exactly what those changes will look like. The detailed written order remains sealed for two weeks while parties prepare redactions.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
This marks the second major antitrust case in which courts have declined to break up Google despite finding monopolistic behavior, following a similar outcome in the search case where Chrome and Android divestitures were rejected. The pattern suggests U.S. courts are favoring behavioral remedies over structural breakups for dominant tech platforms, a approach that critics say may not meaningfully curb Google's market power in either search or advertising.
- Google avoids forced sale of its ad-tech business despite monopoly ruling.
- Judge Brinkema ordered behavioral changes rather than structural breakup, details still unclear.
- Mirrors September's search antitrust outcome, where Google kept Chrome and Android.
The Curse of Bigness by Tim Wu — If this Google ad-tech ruling has you curious about how modern antitrust law got here, Tim Wu's short, punchy book lays out the history of trustbusting and why regulators started targeting tech giants again. It's a fast read that gives real context to headlines about breakups, divestitures and monopoly remedies.
See The Curse of Bigness by Tim Wu on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: techcrunch.com — Lucas Ropek, 2026-09-02
Published there as: “Google spared from ad-business breakup, but judge orders changes to how it operates”
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