DOJ antitrust case targeting Google's ad-tech business will go to trial in September, federal judge rules

A lawsuit against Google’s ad business will go to trial in September, according to a federal judge. The trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 9 in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The lawsuit is the first antitrust suit against a Big Tech company brought by the Biden administration. The case alleges that Google engaged in anticompetitive practices by acquiring rivals and pressuring publishers and advertisers to use its ad technology products. Google argues that the ad tech industry is competitive and that the government’s case would stifle innovation and harm small businesses. This lawsuit follows a previous trial challenging Google’s dominant position as the default search engine on devices. The cases could have significant implications for Google’s market power.