Canada files lawsuit against Google for online advertising monopoly
The Canadian Competition Bureau accuses Google of violating antitrust laws and demands the elimination of its dominance in the advertising technology sector.
Photo: pixabay.com
On November 28, 2024, the Canadian Competition Bureau announced that it had filed a lawsuit against Google for anti-competitive behavior in the online advertising technology market. The information was published on the government's website.
The lawsuit was filed with the Competition Tribunal and includes demands to end practices that infringe on competitors' rights, as well as the sale of parts of Google's advertising tools.
The case concerns Google’s dominance in automated auction technologies used for buying and selling online advertising space.
According to the Bureau, Google intentionally limits other market participants by integrating its tools into a unified system and giving them prioritized access to advertising platforms.
Investigations revealed that such actions not only reinforce Google's monopoly but also hinder innovation, increase advertising costs, and reduce publishers' revenue.
Specifically, Google is accused of distorting auction mechanisms, using negative margins to eliminate competitors, and imposing restrictions on publishers working with other platforms.
The Competition Bureau demands that Google sell two of its advertising tools, cease unfair practices, and pay a fine for violating the Competition Act.
According to Matthew Boswell, Commissioner of Competition, these measures are necessary to restore fair competition in the interests of Canadian advertisers, publishers, and consumers.
Earlier, it was reported that Gmail is launching a new Q&A feature on Android using Gemini AI, helping users find and analyze emails, simplifying the search for relevant information in their inbox.