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Google Spares Breakup as Judge Orders Behavioral Changes
Alphabet Inc.'s Google has been given a reprieve from forced divestment of its AdX advertising exchange by US District Judge Leonie Brinkema. In a decision issued on September 2, 2026, the judge rejected the Justice Department's bid to force a sale of Google's AdX.
The ruling is a significant win for Alphabet and its CEO, as it spares them from being forced to sell off their advertising exchange business. The decision also means that Google must make changes to its ad tech tools to work with those operated by rivals.
Judge Brinkema's order was issued under seal, but the court will release a redacted version later this month that outlines the specific behavioral changes required of Alphabet.