Google has opened its defense against allegations that it holds an illegal monopoly on online advertising technology with witness testimony saying the industry is vastly more complex and competitive than portrayed by the federal government.

A senior Google executive sought to refute the US Justice Department’s antitrust case over its display advertising technology business, testifying that it faces “fierce competition” from the likes of Microsoft Corp.

Google’s appeal to the European Union’s General Court has resulted in a significant reduction of the penalties the company faces in Europe. In 2019, Google was hit with a €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) fine from the European Commission over what was described as “abusive practices in online advertising.