US asks judge to break up Google’s ad tech business after requesting Chrome sale

The US government has demanded that Google divest its ad tech business due to an illegal monopoly in the sector, following a second legal violation within a year. Google’s lawyer argued that leaving such a recidivist monopolist intact isn’t a solution, while the government seeks structural changes like divesting Chrome to fix their dominant search engine. The case is set for a trial phase focusing on market regulation, with Judge Leonie Brinkema agreeing Google created an illegal monopoly but partially dismissing its tools’ dominance over advertisers. Mediation was suggested instead of a lengthy trial, aiming for cost-effective and efficient resolution.