United Kingdom’s CMA objects to Google’s ad tech practices

An investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority, or CMA, of the United Kingdom has provisionally found that Google is using anti-competitive practices in open-display ad tech, which it believes “could be harming thousands of UK publishers and advertisers.” The CMA stated: “As set out in a statement of objections issued to Google today (Friday 6 September), the CMA has provisionally found that, when placing digital ads on websites, the vast majority of publishers and advertisers use Google’s ad tech services in order to bid for and sell advertising space. The CMA is concerned that Google is actively using its dominance in this sector to preference its own services. Google disadvantages competitors and prevents them competing on a level playing field to provide publishers and advertisers with a better, more competitive service that supports growth in their business.”