A US federal judge ruled that Google will not have to sell its online advertising exchange, AdX, following the company’s 2025 loss in an antitrust case. The Department of Justice sought the forced sale as a remedy, arguing it would restore competition in digital ads. The judge agreed Google had illegally locked publishers into its exchange but declined to impose the sale, calling it unnecessary.
The DOJ had argued that AdX’s forced divestiture would level the playing field for competitors. However, the court found that Google’s broader ad tools—used by advertisers—were not in violation, leaving the company’s core revenue streams intact. The ruling limits the impact of the antitrust case, which had sought to curb Google’s dominance in online display advertising.
The decision signals a cautious approach to antitrust enforcement, as tech giants continue to fend off structural remedies. Google’s ad business remains largely unchanged, though regulators may pursue narrower fixes in the future.
