A United States federal judge has ordered Google to loosen restrictions across its online advertising technology business, share more information with publishers and allow rival systems greater access to its advertising tools, while rejecting the government’s attempt to break up the company’s ad-tech operation.
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema detailed the measures in a 106-page opinion unsealed on Wednesday, September 16, following her earlier finding that Google unlawfully monopolised important parts of the technology used by websites to sell advertising. The remedies will remain in force for six years and include independent oversight of Google’s compliance.
Under the order, Google must make its AdX advertising exchange and DFP publisher ad server work more closely with competing systems, including the open-source Prebid platform. AdX will also have to submit real-time bids to competing publisher ad servers, giving publishers greater freedom to use alternatives to Google’s technology.
Google will additionally be required to let publishers access and export their own data from DFP and AdX, a measure intended to make switching to competing advertising technology easier. Google’s AdWords system will be prohibited from giving preferential treatment to Google’s own ad-tech products when bidding for advertising inventory.
The court also ordered the appointment of a monitor and technical committee to oversee Google’s compliance during the six-year period. The Justice Department had sought restrictions lasting 15 years as well as the sale of AdX, but Brinkema concluded that the behavioural measures were sufficient to address the competitive problems identified by the court
The ruling follows Brinkema’s April 2025 finding that Google had illegally maintained monopoly power in the publisher ad-server and ad-exchange markets and unlawfully tied its DFP and AdX products together. Earlier this month, however, she rejected the Justice Department’s demand that Google sell AdX.
Google said it disagrees with the underlying ruling concerning its Google Ad Manager publishing technology and intends to appeal. The company has argued that forcing it to divest parts of its advertising business would have disrupted advertisers, publishers and smaller businesses that rely on its systems.
The Justice Department described the remedies as a significant victory for competition. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward Jr. said the department was continuing to examine the decision and considering its next legal steps.
The ruling could be particularly important for online publishers because Google’s advertising systems operate behind the scenes when advertising space on websites is auctioned in real time. The ordered interoperability and data-sharing measures are designed to give publishers greater ability to use competing services rather than relying on Google’s interconnected advertising products.
Google and the U.S. government must now translate the court’s requirements into a proposed final judgment. The Justice Department says the remedies are intended to restore competition in markets that the court found Google had unlawfully dominated.
