Google monopolized the Internet advertising market by « a series of anti -competitive actions », slices a federal judge – Liberation

Google well monopolized the advertising market on the Internet. In any case, this is what the federal judge Leonie Brinkema estimated, in a judgment made public this Thursday, April 17. In a 115 -page decision, she recognizes that the complainants have clearly demonstrated that the American digital giant had « Sawly undertaken a series of anti -competitive actions To reach and maintain monopoly power in the server of advertising publications and in the advertising exchange markets on the Internet. ” And to continue: « For more than a decade, Google has linked its publication server of advertisements and the exchange of advertisements through contractual clauses and technological integration, which allowed the company to establish and protect its monopolistic position in these two markets », she continued.

According to her, the group also has « Ensured its monopoly by imposing anti -competitive policies on its customers and eliminating favorable characteristics of certain products ». The judge concludes that, in doing so, Google notably caused « Significant damage » to its customers and prevented its rivals from competing with him. Leonie Brinkema gave the accusation and the defense seven days to give it a calendar for the rest of the procedure, to determine the « Remedies » to this situation.

The administration of Joe Biden had assigned Google in January 2023 before a Federal Court of the State of Virginia, demanding that the group be forced to sell assets. The American government had accused in particular Google of controlling the market for advertising banners on websites, including those of many media, and of taking the opportunity to practice artificially high prices and an inequitable income sharing.

According to the accusation, the Gafam was based on three advertising management software considered essential by the majority of websites. « Google has a triple monopoly », had argued the representative of the Ministry of Justice, Aaron Teitelbaum, in hearing. According to the StatCounter site, Google weighed, in September, 90 % of the global online research market And even 94 % on smartphones.

Google’s lawyer Karen Dunn had denounced an erroneous interpretation of law by the ministry. The company had said that the case was based on an outdated version of the Internet, ignoring the current context, where advertisements are also placed in research results, mobile applications and social networks.

In another trialthe jury of a Washington Federal Court has recognized Google guilty of anti -competitive practices in internet research. He is still waiting for the magistrate to rule on the constraints to impose on him. The authorities claim that the GAFAM separates from its Chrome browser.