The US government is taking a second stab at breaking up Google
The US government is taking a second stab at breaking up Google, this time targeting its powerful advertising technology business. After winning a ruling that deemed Google a monopolist, the Justice Department (DOJ) is heading back to court with a fresh strategy that could force the tech giant to sell off parts of its ad empire.
A second chance for the DOJ
Starting Monday, DOJ lawyers and Google’s legal team will face off in a federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia. The trial is expected to last two weeks and will determine whether Google must divest its ad exchange business to restore competition in digital advertising.
This case follows Judge Amit Mehta’s landmark ruling earlier this year that found Google a monopoly in online search. While Mehta’s remedies stopped short of forcing Google to sell its Chrome browser or distribution deals, the DOJ hopes this new trial will achieve what the last one didn’t: a structural breakup.
Why this trial is different
Judge Leonie Brinkema of the Eastern District of Virginia is overseeing this case. Unlike Mehta, she’s not bound by his decision. She previously ruled that Google monopolized two advertising technology markets, giving the DOJ hope that the outcome could be different this time.
What sets this case apart is its focus on the very core of Google’s ad business—the exchange that connects publishers and advertisers. If Brinkema orders Google to divest, it would mark the most aggressive government action against a tech giant in decades.
What’s at stake for Google
For Google, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Advertising still fuels the bulk of its revenue, and losing control of its exchange could disrupt its dominance across the web. A breakup would ripple across the digital ad industry, potentially opening the door for competitors and reshaping how publishers earn revenue online.
For the DOJ, this case is a test of its ability to rein in Big Tech. A win would strengthen its hand in future antitrust battles and signal a tougher era of tech regulation.
This isn’t the first time the government has gone after a tech monopoly. From Microsoft in the 1990s to Meta’s recent scrutiny, antitrust fights have long shaped Silicon Valley. But the renewed focus on Google shows Washington’s growing urgency to address the unchecked power of dominant platforms.
If the DOJ succeeds, it could set a precedent for breaking up Big Tech’s grip on markets where competition has withered. If it fails, Google will remain entrenched at the center of the digital economy.
