Rural publisher Riverine Grazier to launch David vs Goliath class action against tech giant Google over advert rip offs

31 January 2025

The new Google AdTech class action will be flagged at a Federal Court hearing before Justice O’Bryan tomorrow and is being run by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers with law firm Phi Finney McDonald. It is expected to be formally filed with the Court before 14 February.

Google’s ad technology platforms dominate the open display advertising industry, providing services to both publishers and advertisers in programmatic auction processes that result in ads being served to Australian internet and app users.  Google’s alleged misuse of its dominant market position has forced local publishers to accept less revenue for the ads they sell than they otherwise would have, had there been more effective competition in open display advertising. 

Riverine Grazier General Manager Krista Schade said Google needed to be held to account.

“The Grazier is just one of many thousands of publishers in Australia and worldwide simply trying to earn fair income from online advertising to support the important job of news publishing, who find themselves stifled by Google’s conduct.  That’s why we have stepped forward to lead this action,” Ms Schade said.

“Our online stories are read across the globe, and our website is accessed by readers every single day, yet the remuneration to us from using Google’s services is a pittance.  We think it is unfairly low.” 

“Google’s practices have affected publishers of all sizes, all over the world. If large news organisations feel powerless, you can only imagine how The Grazier feels.  We cannot negotiate with a global power such as Google.”

Maurice Blackburn Principal Miranda Nagy said authorities around the world had been moving to end Google’s dominance of the online advertising industry.

“Google’s conduct has been under scrutiny around the world. The potential class action follows similar proceedings in the USA and class actions in the UK Competition Tribunal and Canada, as well as action by regulators.”

“In Australia, an ACCC Inquiry into digital advertising in 2021 identified significant competition concerns and considered that Google’s conflicts of interest had led to poor outcomes for publishers., The ACCC said that Google engaged in a range of conduct that froze out competitors and entrenched its dominant position, likely interfering with the competitive process.  Our case is that this conduct breached competition laws and was unconscionable.”