The US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Google for allegedly monopolizing the online advertising market by using anticompetitive acquisitions to eliminate rivals.

The department and eight states, including California, filed the antitrust lawsuit at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on Tuesday. The department is calling for the tech giant's ad technology business to be broken up.

The department alleges that Google asserts its dominance by using anticompetitive acquisitions to get rid of competitors. In 2008, the tech giant acquired an online advertising infrastructure firm. The department also says Google has forced advertisers to use its products.

Online advertising is one of Google's core businesses.
The tech firm responded by saying the suit doubles down on a flawed argument that would slow innovation, raise advertising fees, and make it harder for thousands of small businesses and publishers to grow.

The Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google in 2020. It alleged that the company had a monopoly on search and search advertising.