Image Credits-Fortunes Crown
Advertisement
As the second week of the high-profile U.S. v. Google antitrust trial commenced, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan took the stand to defend Google’s practices in the online advertising market. Called by the Department of Justice, Mohan, a former Google advertising executive, played a key role in shaping the tech giant’s advertising business, which is now at the heart of the government’s case.
Mohan joined Google in 2008 after the company’s acquisition of DoubleClick, a pivotal move that helped establish Google as a dominant force in digital advertising. In his testimony, he sought to counter allegations that Google engaged in anti-competitive behavior by acquiring rivals to consolidate control. Instead, Mohan contended that Google’s acquisitions—such as its purchase of DoubleClick and later Admeld, another firm central to the case—were strategic moves aimed at competing more effectively in a rapidly evolving market.
“We weren’t trying to eliminate competition,” Mohan stated during questioning. He also stated that Google’s aim was to innovate and deliver better solutions for advertisers and user alike.
The Justice Department’s lawsuit, the largest antitrust case in over two decades, accuses Google of abusing its market dominance by acquiring competitors and neutralizing them to stifle competition in online advertising. Prosecutors argue that Google’s control over tools used by advertisers and publishers grants it unfair advantages, while harming rivals and consumers.
Mohan defended these acquisitions as necessary steps for Google to stay competitive, positioning the company as an innovator in the digital advertising space rather than a monopolistic entity. His testimony comes at a crucial time in the trial, as Google faces mounting scrutiny over its business practices.