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Judge Presses DOJ on Timeline for Potential Google Ad Tech Breakup

By  |  November 23, 2025

A federal judge weighing whether to dismantle Google’s advertising technology empire questioned the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday about how swiftly such an order could be executed, stressing that “time is of the essence,” according to Reuters.

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    The inquiry came as U.S. District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, heard closing arguments in the government’s high-stakes antitrust case against the tech giant. Per Reuters, Brinkema noted that any breakup order would almost certainly trigger an appeal from Google, a move that could delay structural changes for years. “The kind of request you are making most likely would not be as easily enforceable while an appeal is pending,” she said.

    In April, Brinkema ruled that Google maintains two illegal monopolies in the ad tech sector. She acknowledged on Friday that the company is “in an impossible situation” and is highly likely to challenge the decision, particularly as publishers and competing ad tech firms have already filed new lawsuits seeking damages based on her earlier ruling, Reuters reported.

    The DOJ—joined by a coalition of states—is urging the court to force Google to divest its ad exchange, AdX. Online publishers currently pay the company a 20% fee to sell digital ads through rapid-fire auctions that occur when users load webpages. DOJ attorney Matthew Huppert argued that only a full divestiture would ensure “a brighter, more competitive future for the open web,” adding that the remedy must “eradicate Google’s illegally acquired monopolies root and branch.”

    Related: Ribera: Google Shows ‘More Serious’ Effort in Bid to End Ad Tech Probe

    Google, however, insists that such a measure would be unwarranted and harmful. Company attorney Karen Dunn argued that dismantling the ad exchange would be a drastic overreach. “Lawfully acquired monopoly power is the foundation of the American economy,” she said, citing a 2004 Supreme Court opinion. Dunn added that a breakup would pose major technical hurdles and produce a chaotic transition that would ultimately hurt customers.

    Friday’s hearing concluded the evidentiary portion of a years-long clash between the DOJ and Google over control of online advertising and search infrastructure. Google has indicated that it will proceed with appeals once Brinkema issues a final ruling on remedies.

    The case unfolds amid a broader wave of federal antitrust scrutiny across the tech industry. The U.S. continues to pursue cases against Amazon and Apple. Meanwhile, a judge recently blocked the Federal Trade Commission’s effort to force Meta Platforms to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, and the agency has not announced whether it will appeal the decision.

    Source: Reuters