Did Google Give Its Own Ad System An Unfair Advantage Back In 2013 - Android

Google reportedly gave its own ad system a serious advantage back in 2013, via a program called Project Bernanke. That’s based on a recent report from the Wall Street Journal, highlighting a complaint filed by Texas, pointing to an internal presentation from that year. The documentation associated with that was obtained by the source unredacted [...]

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The post Did Google Give Its Own Ad System An Unfair Advantage Back In 2013? appeared first on Android Headlines.

Google reportedly gave its own ad system a serious advantage back in 2013, via a program called Project Bernanke. That’s based on a recent report from the Wall Street Journal, highlighting a complaint filed by Texas, pointing to an internal presentation from that year. The documentation associated with that was obtained by the source unredacted prior to reporting.

The documentation was shown as part of an antitrust lawsuit against the company. And, according to the State, stands as evidence of insider trading.

What was this project and how did it give the Google ad system an advantage?

The program in question, Project Bernanke, is alleged to have given the Google ad purchasing system an advantage over its rivals.  Summarily, by using data from publishers’ ad servers to redirect advertisers toward the price they’d have to pay for ad placements. The company also didn’t tell the publishers about the program. And as a result, Google was essentially using the information to undercut competitors. While also paying publishers less.  pay publishers less.

Furthermore, Google stood to gain as much as $230 million in 2013 as a result of Project Bernanke, according to the purported presentation.

Texas plans to utilize the information as a means to charge Google with breaches of antitrust laws. This, combined with other deals allegedly made as part of a wider set of arrangements, gave Google an unfair advantage for its ad system, the state alleges.

Google’s response is measured

Google, for its part, has reportedly admitted that Project Bernanke exists but also decries the take from Texas as misrepresentative. In fact, it says that the info is “comparable” to its competitors. Specifically, to what can be found with other ad tools. As such, it plans to challenge the state’s claim.

And the search giant could have some precedence to its claim. UK regulators have concluded that Google didn’t have an advantage. Although a US court’s opinion could easily sway in a different direction.

The post Did Google Give Its Own Ad System An Unfair Advantage Back In 2013? appeared first on Android Headlines.