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DOJ Scrutinizes Google Advertising, Search in Antitrust Probe

  • Investigators meeting companies with grievances against Google
  • Barr elevates antitrust lawyer in sign of his keen interest
Alphabet Inc. Google And Gmail Illustrations Ahead Of Earnings Figures
Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg

The Justice Department is scrutinizing Google’s digital advertising and search operations as authorities gear up a broad antitrust review of the market power of giant internet companies, according to people familiar with the matter.

Antitrust officials have been actively meeting over the past month with third-party companies that could have grievances against Google, including publishers and consumer-facing websites, said two people familiar with the matter. Advertisers and ad-tech companies have also met with the officials, and more meetings are on the calendar, one of the people said.