The antitrust regulators of EU orders Google parent company, Alphabet, to stop giving incentives to the makers of smartphone devices, specifically Android phones, for pre-installing Google Search and Google's Play Store. Google might face a large fine due to this case where monopoly online search is in place.
According to Reuters report, more than 150 pages of documents were sent back to complainants for a feedback about the Google case. The documents were also sent to Google last April. In these was accusation that Google is shutting down its rivals by using its mobile operating system in Android.
You can now find @usedgov College Scorecard info, like tuition and graduation & acceptance rates, in Search → https://t.co/sGJBC9jA8r pic.twitter.com/0pOQNkCRkz
— Google (@google) September 30, 2016
The statement of objections states that the EU enforcers plans to tell Google to stop paying smartphone manufacturers. The giant does this in exchange for pre-installing Google's proprietary application in mobile devices. The document also states that Google "cannot punish or threaten" smartphone companies for following its terms and conditions.
Don’t miss the boat (or bus) with real-time public transit updates on the #GoogleApp for iPhone → https://t.co/3JrDJrIbJt pic.twitter.com/fjwuP2lS6m — Google (@google) September 30, 2016
EU's accusation to Google include "restricting third-party websites from displaying search advertisements, favoring its own comparison shopping service and abusing the dominance of its mobile operating system which is Android, reported by CNBC. Google has not been charged yet. However,the giant tech company may face a fine that will be based on Google's revenue on AdWords clicks, Google Search queries, Play Store apps purchases and AdMob's in-app advertisements.
This is not the first time Google is accused of anti-competitive practices. In July, the European Commission filed formal legal complaint over the tech giant's dominance in the search market, which made it the third antitrust complaints against Google.
The conduct of Google is deemed stifling and harmful to both consumers and competitors according to the preliminary view of EU's competition commissioner, Margarethe Vestager in April 2015. The anti-trust regulators were also looking for Google's partnership with third-party websites who could pull up search ads from its competitors, according to Tech Times.
Google spokesperson said in an interview, "We believe that our innovations and product improvements have increased choice for European consumers and promote competition. We'll examine the commission's renewed cases and provide a detailed response in coming weeks." In 2013, FairSearch announced their complaint in EU about Google's anti-competitive practices.
