Google found guilty of misusing Android dominance in India, CCI orders wider probe
A 14-page order from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) found Google's restrictions on manufacturers seemed to amount to imposition of "unfair conditions" under India's competition law.
- Jun 28, 2019,
- Updated Jun 28, 2019 7:47 PM IST
Google appears to have misused its dominant position in India and reduced the ability of device manufacturers to opt for alternate versions of its Android mobile operating system, Indian officials found before ordering a wider probe in an antitrust case.
A 14-page order from the Competition Commission of India (CCI), reviewed by Reuters this week, found Google's restrictions on manufacturers seemed to amount to imposition of "unfair conditions" under India's competition law.
Reuters reported last month that the CCI had launched a probe in April against Google for its alleged abuse of Android's dominant position to block rivals, but the contents of the directive detailing the initial assessment upon which that investigation was ordered have not been previously revealed.
The Indian case is similar to one Google faced in Europe, where regulators imposed a $5 billion fine on the company for forcing manufacturers to pre-install its apps on Android devices. Google has appealed against the verdict.
IIIT-Bengaluru student bags job at Google with Rs 60 lakh salary
Google's "impugned conduct may help perpetuate its dominance in online search markets while resulting in denial of market access for competing search apps", the CCI said in its order.
The investigations arm of the CCI should complete the wider probe in the case within 150 days, the order said, though such cases at the watchdog typically drag on for years.
The CCI also said the role of any Google executive in alleged abuse of the Android platform should also be examined.
The investigation is not the only antitrust headache for the Mountain View, California-based company in one of its key growth markets. Last year, the CCI imposed a fine of 1.36 billion rupees ($20 million) on Google for "search bias" and abuse of its dominant position.
Google appealed against that order, saying the ruling could cause it "irreparable" harm and reputational loss. That appeal is still pending in an Indian tribunal.
For Unparalleled coverage of India's Businesses and Economy – Subscribe to Business Today Magazine
Google appears to have misused its dominant position in India and reduced the ability of device manufacturers to opt for alternate versions of its Android mobile operating system, Indian officials found before ordering a wider probe in an antitrust case.
A 14-page order from the Competition Commission of India (CCI), reviewed by Reuters this week, found Google's restrictions on manufacturers seemed to amount to imposition of "unfair conditions" under India's competition law.
Reuters reported last month that the CCI had launched a probe in April against Google for its alleged abuse of Android's dominant position to block rivals, but the contents of the directive detailing the initial assessment upon which that investigation was ordered have not been previously revealed.
The Indian case is similar to one Google faced in Europe, where regulators imposed a $5 billion fine on the company for forcing manufacturers to pre-install its apps on Android devices. Google has appealed against the verdict.
IIIT-Bengaluru student bags job at Google with Rs 60 lakh salary
Google's "impugned conduct may help perpetuate its dominance in online search markets while resulting in denial of market access for competing search apps", the CCI said in its order.
The investigations arm of the CCI should complete the wider probe in the case within 150 days, the order said, though such cases at the watchdog typically drag on for years.
The CCI also said the role of any Google executive in alleged abuse of the Android platform should also be examined.
The investigation is not the only antitrust headache for the Mountain View, California-based company in one of its key growth markets. Last year, the CCI imposed a fine of 1.36 billion rupees ($20 million) on Google for "search bias" and abuse of its dominant position.
Google appealed against that order, saying the ruling could cause it "irreparable" harm and reputational loss. That appeal is still pending in an Indian tribunal.
For Unparalleled coverage of India's Businesses and Economy – Subscribe to Business Today Magazine