Judge orders changes to Google’s digital ads business but spares it from a breakup

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Google to change practices in its digital advertising business but rejected the U.S. Justice Department’s request to force a sale of its AdX advertising exchange. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, had ruled in April 2025 that Google unlawfully monopolized publisher ad-server and ad-exchange markets and illegally tied its DFP and AdX products. She accepted most proposed behavioral remedies, according to reporting on the sealed order, while details remain unavailable pending redactions. The DOJ and 17 states had sought stronger structural measures, including an AdX divestiture and disclosure of auction technology. Google argued a forced sale would be technically difficult and disruptive. The ruling preserves Google’s control of AdX while imposing conduct restrictions intended to improve competition. The decision follows a 2025 search-antitrust remedy that also stopped short of requiring Google to sell Chrome. The full ad-tech opinion is expected after review.