Alphabet Rejects EU’s AdTech Breakup Demand Amid $3.4B Fine, GOOGL Shares Dip
Alphabet (GOOGL) shares declined in early trading Friday as the tech giant pushed back against the European Union's demand to divest its adtech business following a $3.4 billion antitrust fine. The company instead proposed operational changes to its advertising platform, including allowing publishers to set bidder-specific minimum prices through Google Ad Manager.
The EU's scrutiny intensifies as regulators simultaneously investigate Google's search ranking practices for publishers. Alphabet's response highlights the growing tension between Big Tech and European antitrust authorities, with potential Ripple effects across digital advertising markets.