The future of internet advertising is at stake as Google and the U.S. Government face off in a high-stakes courtroom battle. This isn’t just a legal dispute; it’s a clash of titans that could reshape the digital landscape.
On Friday, November 21, 2025, a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, will witness a showdown between Google’s legal team and the U.S. Department of Justice. At the heart of this battle lies Google’s digital ad network, which has been branded an illegal monopoly by a U.S. District Judge.
The judge, Leonie Brinkema, ruled last year that Google’s ad technology was rigged, giving it an unfair advantage and creating a monopoly. Now, in a follow-up trial, Brinkema must decide on the appropriate remedy for Google’s anti-competitive practices.
Both sides will present their closing arguments on November 21, with Google and the Justice Department making their final pitches to sway the judge’s decision. The Justice Department is pushing for a radical solution: forcing Google to sell off parts of its ad technology empire, arguing that a breakup is the only way to rein in this ‘recidivist monopolist.’
But Google isn’t going down without a fight. Its lawyers contend that dismantling the intricate ad system would be too risky and could disrupt the digital advertising market. They argue that this technology is crucial for consumers and that their proposed reforms will bring more transparency and competition.
Here’s where it gets controversial: the Justice Department’s push for a breakup comes on the heels of a similar case involving Google’s search engine monopoly. In that case, the judge rejected a proposal to force Google to sell its popular Chrome web browser, leading many to believe Google got off lightly.
The market seems to agree; Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has seen its value surge by a whopping $950 billion since that decision. Despite this perceived leniency, the Justice Department is undeterred in its pursuit of a breakup for Google’s ad tech system, which handles an astonishing 55 million requests per second.
And this is the part most people miss: the impact of artificial intelligence (AI). Google’s lawyers argue that AI is already increasing competition, and the judge in the search monopoly case acknowledged this. The Justice Department, however, urges the judge to focus on the testimony of trial witnesses who paint a picture of a company that cannot be trusted to change its ways.
The witnesses claim that Google can manipulate its computer algorithms, the very engines of its monopolies, in ways that are difficult to detect.
So, will the judge side with the Justice Department and order a breakup, or will Google’s arguments for caution and reform prevail? The decision could have far-reaching implications for the future of internet advertising and the tech industry as a whole.
What do you think? Should Google be broken up, or is there another way to address its dominance in the digital ad space? The comments section is open for your thoughts and opinions on this complex and controversial issue.