Adtech antitrust judge criticizes Google’s business practices

Google's legal problems appeared to deepen yesterday when the judge in the adtech antitrust case sharply criticized the tech giant and hinted at possible consequences for its business practices.

What happened: During the pre-trial hearing, Judge Leonie Brinkema sharply criticized Google's handling of confidential information and described the company's actions as “totally inappropriate and incorrect.”

The court particularly highlighted the so-called “Walker memo,” which contained “incredible, compelling evidence” as proof of possible misconduct.

The judge also condemned Google's practice of automatically deleting chats, which employees derisively referred to as “Vegas mode,” suggesting that the company may have intentionally destroyed evidence.

Why we care. If Google is found to be engaging in anti-competitive practices, this could lead to significant changes in the digital advertising landscape. This could include changes to pricing and bidding models and potentially increased competition from other platforms.

The big picture: This trial, one of the most significant antitrust cases in decades, could reshape the landscape for the media and technology industries.

The judge's comments suggest that Google's internal practices could have a major impact on the outcome of the trial, as witnesses' testimony could potentially be used to weigh against the company.

What you should see: With less than two weeks to go before the trial begins, Google is under increasing scrutiny. The judge's familiarity with related antitrust decisions, including a recent unfavorable ruling against Google, sets the stage for what could be a pivotal moment in the company's legal battle.

Dig deeper.

USA vs. Google. This is Google's second major antitrust case this year. Earlier this month, a federal judge in the antitrust case USA v. Google ruled that Google illegally monopolizes the search engine and search advertising markets, particularly by paying $20 billion annually for the default search function on iPhones.