Google's case before Mexico's Competition Commission has been officially concluded
================================================================================
Google, the tech giant, is currently grappling with antitrust investigations and lawsuits in several parts of the world. These challenges are primarily focused on Google's dominance in search engine services and the digital advertising ecosystem.
In the United States, a landmark ruling on April 17, 2025, found Google guilty of illegally monopolizing key segments of the digital advertising technology market. The Justice Department, along with a coalition of states, is demanding that Google sell off at least its Google Ad Manager, a significant component of Google's online advertising business. This demand is part of a broader antitrust investigation into Google's online advertising practices.
The Google Ad Manager, which includes Google's publisher ad server and ad exchange, is a key part of Google's digital advertising services. Its potential sale could significantly impact the company's revenue from this sector. The Justice Department's concerns stem from allegations of anti-competitive practices in the online advertising market.
In a separate case, a U.S. federal judge has stated that Google has illegally dominated two markets for online advertising technology. Meanwhile, a U.S. district judge ruled that Google holds an unlawful monopoly in online search and related advertising. The tech company is also under pressure to share search data and cease multibillion-dollar payments to Apple and other smartphone makers to be the default search engine on new devices.
The Epic Games vs. Google case, which culminated in a 2023 jury verdict and 2024 permanent injunctions, found Google violated antitrust laws by monopolizing Android app distribution and billing, unlawfully tying the Google Play Store to its billing service.
Away from the U.S., Australia's Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has targeted Google’s 94% dominance in search through ongoing antitrust measures. In the UK and European Union, antitrust investigations and lawsuits are also ongoing, focusing particularly on Google's dominance in search and digital advertising.
Mexico's antitrust watchdog, Cofece, has closed a case against Google, clearing the tech giant of any potential fines. However, concerns remain that Google's search engine gives it an advantage, leading to antitrust challenges around the world.
Google's parent company, Alphabet, does not include specific revenue numbers for Mexico in its earnings reports, but its revenue for the "other Americas" region, which includes Latin America, was approximately $20.4 billion in 2024.
In conclusion, Google faces multifaceted antitrust challenges worldwide that question its dominant position in search engine services and the digital advertising ecosystem. Regulatory and legal actions are progressing in many major markets, raising questions about the future of Google's business model.
References:
- Bloomberg
- TechCrunch
- Epic Games
- OpenX
- ACCC
The antitrust challenges against Google are not only limited to the United States, as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is also targeting Google's dominance in search engine services. In the world of finance and business, these legal actions could potentially impact Google's revenue from its digital advertising technology, such as the Google Ad Manager. As technology continues to advance, the outcome of these investigations could reshape the entire digital advertising industry.
