Judge declines Google ad-tech breakup; milder remedies ahead

On 2 Sep 2026 The Verge reported that Judge Leonie Brinkema declined the Justice Department’s request to make Google sell parts of its ad tech business. She said she would adopt most behavioral changes proposed by the parties, with modifications; the detailed opinion is not public yet pending redactions and revisions. Earlier liability findings held that Google illegally monopolized publisher ad servers (DFP) and ad exchanges (AdX) and tied them anticompetitively, while the DOJ failed to prove monopolization of advertiser-side tools. Google welcomed rejection of a breakup; the DOJ had no immediate comment. This mirrors Judge Mehta’s earlier search case, where structural divestiture was also refused.