The following statement from the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) regarding the Department of Justice (DOJ) and state attorneys general’s antitrust lawsuit against Google’s ad tech that begins today can be attributed to Paul Lekas, Senior Vice President, Global Public Policy.
SIIA remains deeply concerned by the decision to bring this litigation. The ad tech space is a dynamic and highly competitive one in which low barriers to entry have resulted in continuing innovation. The action taken by the Department of Justice and state attorneys general would benefit Google’s competitors in the ad tech space, not the small and medium-sized businesses that choose to use Google’s innovative ad tech offerings because they make it easier to access dozens of non-Google platforms as well as Google services.
In such an environment, it’s a bedrock principle that private businesses may decide whether to do business with competitors, and on what terms. Google is already doing more than the law requires by providing its competitors with access to its products, thereby allowing customers to fashion the solution that works best for them. Given the robustly competitive online advertising environment, the case is ill-advised and risks setting a dangerous precedent that would erode competition and innovation.
