The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has accused Google in the latest antitrust case of running a massive monopoly in digital advertising technology, which excludes potential competitors and drives up costs for publishers and advertisers to maximize profits. DoJ attorney Julia Tarver Wood stated at the beginning of the trial in Virginia: "No one wins – except Google.

This procedure follows just a few weeks after a landmark ruling by a judge in Washington, who found Google guilty of monopolizing the online search market. The decision on how Google will be penalized is expected next year. Both cases are part of a broad initiative by U.S. antitrust authorities to limit the market power of Big Tech.

The current proceedings are directed against Google's dominant position in the lucrative online advertising business. The DoJ, supported by 17 US states, accuses Google of controlling both the platforms for selling advertisements and the matching between publishers and advertisers. Google is said to claim up to 37 percent of every advertising dollar and to control about 90 percent of the market for ad servers and advertising networks worldwide.

Google's defense rejected the allegations. Karen Dunn, representing Google, argued that the company had expanded the market through innovation and created added value for all market participants in a highly competitive environment. She emphasized that Google's products offer superior technologies in a competitive market. Dunn criticized the government for misunderstanding the business and relying on outdated analyses.

The decision about the outcome of the proceedings will be made by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton. The trial will last several weeks.