In a recent government meeting, discussions centered around the ongoing antitrust lawsuit against Google, with Virginia serving as the lead co-plaintiff alongside the United States. The case, filed in the Eastern District of Virginia, alleges monopolization of the ad tech market. The court's decision to keep the case in Virginia, despite Google's attempts to transfer it to the Southern District of New York, was highlighted as a significant victory for state enforcement efforts.

The meeting underscored the importance of existing antitrust laws, with officials noting that states like Virginia and Utah are actively utilizing these laws to address challenges posed by large tech companies. The conversation also touched on the broader legislative landscape, including the recent passage of the State Antitrust Enforcement Venue Act, which aims to protect states from being forced into multi-district litigation (MDL) in antitrust cases.

Participants expressed optimism about the progress of the case, which is moving toward trial, and acknowledged the robust debate in Congress regarding the need for additional enforcement tools to tackle the complexities of big tech. The officials emphasized that while new legislation is being considered, significant work can still be accomplished under current laws.