The Competition Commission on Thursday imposed a fine of Rs 1,337.76 crore on Google for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets in the Android mobile device ecosystem. In addition, the fair trade regulator has directed the internet major to stop and stop unfair business practices.
In a release, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said it has also directed Google to revise its conduct within a stipulated time frame.
In April 2019, the regulator ordered a detailed inquiry into the matter following complaints by consumers. android based smartphone in country. Android is an open source, mobile operating system installed by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) Smartphones And pills,
The allegations of unfair business practices pertain to two agreements – the Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA) and the Anti Fragmentation Agreement (AFA) – that were entered into by the OEMs of the Android OS. Google,
In releaseThe regulator said it has imposed a fine of Rs 1,337.76 crore on Google for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets in the Android mobile device ecosystem, apart from issuing a cease-and-desist order.
According to the release, CCI stated that the mandatory pre-installation of the entire Google Mobile Suite (GMS) under MADA, there is no option to uninstall it, and their prominent placement amounts to undue bets on device manufacturers and thus violates competition law .
It said, “These obligations are also found to be in the nature of supplementary obligations imposed by Google on the OEM and, thus, are in contravention of section 4(2)(d) of the Act.”
Section 4 of the Competition Act deals with abuse of dominant position.
Google continues to dominate the online search market, resulting in the denial of market access to competing search apps. In addition, it has leveraged its dominant position in the App Store market for Android OS to defend its position in general online search that violates competition law.
In addition, the CCI noted that the Internet major has leveraged its dominant position in the App Store market for Android OS as well as to protect its position in the non-OS specific web browser market. Google Chrome Application.
“Google has leveraged its dominant position in the App Store market for the Android OS as well as to defend its position in the online video hosting platform (OVHP) market. youtube and thereby contravened the provisions of section 4(2)(e) of the Act,” the release said.