Federal judge keeps Google’s AdX, orders behavioral remedies
Judge rejects a forced sale and imposes conduct limits on the ad exchange, preserving ownership while requiring operational changes.
Mateo Fernandez ·
A federal judge on Sept. 17, 2026 rejected the Department of Justice's request to force the sale of Google's AdX, instead ordering a package of behavioral remedies that leave the exchange under the company's ownership. Reaction pending.
Court orders behavioral safeguards
The judge said structural relief was unnecessary and outlined conduct measures aimed at altering how the exchange operates, officials said. The remedies are designed to restrict certain practices the court found anticompetitive while avoiding a breakup of the platform, officials added.
Industry participants said the decision reduces the immediate risk of a divisive divestiture but keeps regulatory oversight active. Advertisers and publishers that rely on AdX will continue to operate on the exchange while reviewing the court's directives, market sources said.
The ruling marks a shift from the Department of Justice's initial push for a structural remedy and signals a judicial preference for behavioural fixes in this case, officials said. Legal teams for the parties are expected to evaluate next steps, including whether to seek appellate review.
If the Department of Justice files a notice of appeal, federal appellate rules normally allow 60 days for the government to do so; that window would run to Nov. 16, 2026, counting from Sept. 17, 2026. Watch for filings or compliance schedules before that date.