Ten US state led by Texas, are suing Google and accusing the billion dollar company for taking illegal steps to preserve its monopoly over the online advertising market. The alleged situation includes striking a deal with Facebook to manipulate online advertising auctions and invading users privacy according to the states representatives.
The latest legal complaint lead to the tech giant company experiencing pressure from global regulators.
The lawsuit elaborates at Google’s control of the online advertising market, centered around 2008 with a purchase of DoubleClick, the primary software that publishers used to sell online advertising.
Facebook is choosing to not comment on the issue.
Ten states in the US including Texas, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, South Dakota, North Dakota, Utah and Idaho – all the states led by Republican prosecutors.
80% of Google’s revenue comes from advertising sales.
#BREAKING: Texas takes the lead once more! Today, we’re filing a lawsuit against #Google for anticompetitive conduct.
This internet Goliath used its power to manipulate the market, destroy competition, and harm YOU, the consumer. Stay tuned… pic.twitter.com/fdEVEWQb0e
— Texas Attorney General (@TXAG) December 16, 2020
The lawsuit also accuses both Google and Facebook for asking advantage in the online advertising markets in exchange for Google to drop plans to compete.
Google has maintained continuously that it is operating in a competitive market, with new threats emerging from Amazon and other big corporate.
Not just Google, but companies in UK and Europe officials have announced plans for new rules aimed at Big Tech.
By Meena Atmakuri
