Google AdX Monopoly Spared Breakup by US Judge

U.S. District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema has dealt a blow to antitrust efforts by refusing to order the breakup of Google's AdX ad exchange, which was found guilty of illegal monopolization in April 2025.

In a statement, Open Markets Institute Executive Director Barry Lynn condemned the decision, saying 'there are many threats to American democracy today. Sadly, Judge Leonie Brinkema just added another.'

Lynn argued that breaking up Google's AdX ad exchange was the only logical action to address the threat, and that by not doing so, the judge has allowed the corporation to remain largely free to pose an increasingly absolute threat to freedom of speech, thought, and spirit.

The decision is seen as a failure to faithfully apply the laws enacted by Congress and uphold the Constitution, with Lynn stating 'this represents not merely a failure of imagination by Brinkema... They mark a failure to protect the liberties of the American people.'