Vedder is an international business-focused law firm serving sophisticated clients of all sizes and industries from offices across the U.S. and in the UK and Asia.

A Business Focused Law Firm With a Global Reach | Vedder

Recent actions by the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) highlight a sharp escalation in agency antitrust enforcement, particularly for dominant technology platforms. The DOJ has brought two significant cases against Google—one concerning its dominance in search, and another targeting its control over digital advertising technologies. At the same time, the FTC is pursuing a case against Meta, focusing on its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.DOJ Targets Google’s Search DominanceThe DOJ has entered the remedies phase in its high-profile case against Google, following the D.C. District Court’s <a href="https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000191-23f0-d160-aff9-6bff4bbe0000">finding</a> that Google unlawfully maintained a monopoly in the general search market. The government alleges that Google’s default search placement agreements with browser and device manufacturers stifled competition in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act.Now structural <a href="https://www.justice.gov/atr/media/1397241/dl?inline">remedies</a> are on the table. The DOJ is reportedly considering options ranging from unwinding exclusive deals to potentially requiring divestitures of business lines such as Chrome or Android if corrective measures fall short.Ad Tech Ruling Reinforces Monopoly ConcernsIn a separate <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-prevails-landmark-antitrust-case-against-google">ruling</a>, a federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia concluded that Google monopolized key elements of the digital advertising ecosystem—often referred to as the “ad tech stack.” This includes the infrastructure that connects advertisers to available ad space on websites and apps. The court found that Google favored its own exchange and tools, resulting in harm to both advertisers and publishers.This ruling significantly strengthens the DOJ’s ongoing ad tech litigation and reflects growing judicial receptiveness to platform self-preferencing theories.FTC’s Case Against Meta Moves ForwardMeta is also in the spotlight. The FTC’s <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/191-0134-facebook-inc-ftc-v-ftc-v-meta-platforms-inc">challenge</a> to Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp is progressing, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifying in defense of the deals. The FTC <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/1910134ftcopeningstatementslides.pdf">alleges</a> that Meta’s acquisitions were part of a strategy to neutralize nascent competition.Although the FTC faces an uphill battle proving post-merger harm, the case signals continued regulatory focus on mergers in the digital marketplace.Takeaways for Technology-Focused BusinessesFor companies operating in or around the technology sector, recent enforcement actions make clear that antitrust scrutiny is intensifying—particularly when it comes to the conduct and acquisitions of dominant platforms. Both pre-merger strategy and post-merger integration are under the microscope, as agencies revisit past transactions and scrutinize how platform power is exercised in practice. Businesses should reassess areas of potential exposure, including exclusivity provisions, interoperability restrictions, data-sharing practices, and vertical integration involving digital infrastructure. Given the pace and complexity of these developments, staying aligned with current enforcement trends is increasingly important—and often worth discussing with antitrust counsel as questions arise.

Antitrust Pressure Mounts for Dominant Tech Platforms

Related Capabilities

Related People

Stay up to date

Related Capabilities

Related People

Stay up to date

Slide Menu

Slide Search