Google Groups found to pose risk of personal data leaks

A U.S. federal judge ruled Thursday that Google violated antitrust law by monopolizing the open-web digital advertising markets, marking another major setback for the tech giant in its antitrust litigation. 

According to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the company "harmed Google's publishing customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web." Google has stated that it will appeal the ruling. Google's vice president for regulatory affairs, argued that publishers have many choices, and they choose Google because its advertising tech tools are simple, affordable, and effective. 

This is the second time a U.S. federal court has ruled that Google engaged in illegal monopolistic practices. In August 2024, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., ruled that Google had illegally monopolized the online search market.