India Is Investigating Google For Abusing Its Authority In Android

Google faced a record fine of 4.34 billion euros, or $5 billion, by the European Union in February for abusing its dominance in Android. Now, India is also looking forward to cornering Google over Android antitrust concerns.

As reported by Reuters, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) started investigating the matter last year and in April this year, the CCI found that there could be a strong case and the committee has ordered its investigation unit to launch a full probe into the matter.

According to a source closely related to the matter, “It is a strong case for the CCI, given the EU precedent. The CCI has (preliminarily) found that Google abused its dominant position.”

It will take almost a year for the investigation to be completed and during the probe, Google representatives will be summoned to present their side of the story.

A Google spokesperson said that Android has paved the way for affordable smartphones in the country and the company is ready to “demonstrate how Android has led to more competition and innovation, not less.”

There are no concrete details available about the investigation, but Reuters reports that the case will be followed on the lines of the EU’s antitrust case.

In the EU’s probe, it was found that Google forcefully bundled its apps like Chrome browser and Google Search into Android devices, which is unfair to other app developers.

If the company is found guilty by the CCI, the commission holds the authority to impose a fine of up to 10% of the annual turnover of the company in the last three financial years.

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