Google's defense in ad tech monopoly trial faces sharp criticism

Google concluded its defense in the U.S. Department of Justice's ad tech monopoly trial this week. The defense faced criticism for presenting a confusing chart and witnesses whose credibility was questioned, including a key expert whose past testimony was deemed unreliable. The DOJ's cross-examination of Google's expert, Mark Israel, raised doubts about his credibility. Israel claimed Google holds only 25% of the U.S. display ad market, but the DOJ highlighted his history of biased testimony for companies facing antitrust challenges. Google's defense strategy has been described as a "light touch," focusing on its products' efficiency rather than addressing the DOJ's claims of anti-competitive practices. Internal documents presented in court suggest Google may have intended to monopolize the ad tech industry. Closing arguments are set for November 25.