04:36 PM EST, 11/28/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) Google ( GOOG ) is being sued by the Competition Bureau Canada over anti-competitive conduct in online advertising in the country, the agency said Thursday.

The case focuses on online ads shown to users when they visit websites. These ads are often bought and sold through automated auctions using ad tech platforms, collectively known as the ad tech stack, the agency said, adding that its investigation found that Google ( GOOG ) is the biggest provider across the ad tech stack for web advertising in Canada.

The tech giant "abused its dominant position through conduct intended to ensure that it would maintain and entrench its market power. Google's ( GOOG ) conduct locks market participants into using its own ad tech tools, prevents rivals from being able to compete on the merits of their offering, and otherwise distorts the competitive process," the agency said.

The Bureau has filed a case with the Competition Tribunal to address these issues. It is seeking an order that mainly requires Google ( GOOG ) to sell two of its ad tech tools, directs the company to pay a penalty to promote compliance with the Competition Act and prohibits Google ( GOOG ) from continuing to engage in anticompetitive practices, the agency said.

Google ( GOOG ) could not be immediately reached for comment.