Khaberni - A US judge, reviewing the matter of dismantling Google's advertising technology business, asked the Department of Justice on Friday about the pace at which such an action could be implemented, stating that "time is (an) essential factor."
So far, Google has not been significantly affected by the government's legal campaign against the dominance of big tech companies, a campaign that began during the first term of President Donald Trump.
However, this may change, depending on what Federal Court Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, decides in the Department of Justice's case related to Google's ad tech, according to Reuters.
In the closing arguments of the case on Friday, the judge noted that Google would likely appeal the verdict, a step that would probably delay any forced sale for years.
The judge said, "It is likely that this type of request that you are submitting is not easily enforceable while awaiting an appeal."
Brinkema ruled in April that Google had two illegal monopolies in advertising technology, and she is now considering what the company should do to restore competition.
Brinkema said the company is "in a critical position," and is very likely to appeal this judgment, given that publishers and competing ad tech firms depend on the ruling to claim compensations in several new lawsuits.
The Department of Justice and a coalition of states have asked the judge to compel Google to sell its AdX ad exchange platform, where online publishers pay a 20% fee to Google for selling ads in auctions that occur instantly as users load websites.
Matthew Hubert, a lawyer for the Department of Justice, argued on Friday that nothing less than a forced sale would bring "a brighter, more competitive future for the open internet," adding that the court's solution "needs to eradicate Google's illegally gained monopolies completely."
Meanwhile, Google lawyer Karen Dunn pointed out that a forced sale would be an extremely drastic measure.
Dunn argued that a breakup would be technically difficult, leading to a long and arduous transition that would harm customers.
The closing arguments on Friday marked the end of the evidence hearings in Google's long-standing battle with the US Department of Justice over its dominance of online advertising and search. Google intends to appeal.
