Canada has filed a lawsuit against Google for monopolizing the online advertising market.

The Canadian Competition Bureau has filed a lawsuit against Google's parent company, Alphabet, accusing it of anti-competitive behavior in the online advertising market, as reported by Reuters.

The agency claims that Google unlawfully increased its market share by hindering the growth of competitors.

It is noted that the Bureau insists that the company divests two of its advertising tools. Google responded that the lawsuit overlooks the reality of fierce competition, where both advertisers and sellers have a wide range of choices.

“Our advertising technology tools help websites and apps fund their content and allow companies of all sizes to effectively attract new customers,” stated Dan Taylor, Google’s Vice President of Global Advertising.

The investigation against Google, which began in 2020, revealed that the company is the largest provider of advertising technology for online ads in Canada and "abuses its dominant position by engaging in practices aimed at maintaining and strengthening its market power."

Similar cases against Google are also underway in the U.S. and the EU.