Canada’s Competition Bureau has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging anti-competitive behavior in the online advertising industry. The Bureau is seeking an order for Google to sell two of its ad tech tools and is also seeking a penalty to ensure compliance with competition laws. Google has responded by stating that there is intense competition in the industry and that they look forward to presenting their case in court.
The investigation found that Google holds a dominant position in the ad tech stack for web advertising in Canada and has allegedly abused this position to maintain and strengthen its market power. This case comes after similar allegations made by the US Justice Department regarding Google’s monopoly in the online advertising market. Google has defended itself by stating that the US government has misrepresented the competitive landscape of the industry.
In response to a European Union antitrust investigation, Google had offered to sell its ad exchange earlier this year, but European publishers rejected the proposal as insufficient. The company continues to face scrutiny over its practices in various regions. The case highlights ongoing concerns about monopolistic behavior in the digital advertising industry and the need for regulatory oversight to ensure fair competition. The final decision on the lawsuit is yet to be determined, with closing arguments in the US case recently made.
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