Publishers Accuse Google of 'Fake Privilege' in Ad Tech MDL

A group of website publishers has filed a motion in a New York federal court to force discovery into Google's corporate policies, which they claim are hiding evidence related to its dominant ad placement technology. The move is part of a wider multidistrict litigation targeting the tech giant's advertising practices.

The publishers argue that Google's alleged 'fake privilege' has hindered their efforts to gather information about the company's ad placement technology in antitrust cases brought by both government and private plaintiffs. They are seeking discovery into corporate policies that they believe are concealing evidence of Google's market dominance.

The motion was filed on August 18, 2026, in a New York federal court. The publishers' claims follow similar allegations made against Google in other antitrust cases.