30.3 C
Accra
Sunday, December 22, 2024
WorldGoogle: India punishes a tech giant $161 million for unlawful business practices

Date:

Google: India punishes a tech giant $161 million for unlawful business practices

The Indian government fined Google 13 billion rupees ($161 million; £144 million) for dominating the market with its Android platform.

The country’s competition regulator has accused Google of entering into “one-sided agreements” with smartphone manufacturers in order to keep the dominance of its apps.

It has ordered Google to “cease and desist”  from such behaviour.

Google has not responded to the fine or the accusations yet.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said in a statement on Thursday that Google was “abusing” the licensing of its Android operating system for a range of smartphones, web searches, browsing, and video hosting services.

It said that Google was entering into forced agreements with players in the space to ensure that its bouquet of apps – such as Google Chrome, YouTube, Google Maps and others – were used.

The statement added that this practice was stifling competition and gave Google continuous access to consumer data and lucrative advertising opportunities.

The CCI has also asked Google to not force device manufacturers to pre-install its apps and that it must allow manufacturers and users to install apps of their choice during the initial device setup.

“Markets should be allowed to compete on merits and the onus is on the dominant players (in the present case, Google) that its conduct does not impinge this competition on merits,” the statement said.

Google is facing a series of anti-trust cases in India and authorities are also probing Google’s conduct in the smart TV market and its in-app payments system.

The Android-related inquiry was started in 2019, following complaints by consumers of Android smartphones.

The case is similar to the one Google faced in Europe, where regulators imposed a $5bn fine on the company for using its Android operating system to gain an unfair advantage in the market.

 

[forminator_poll id="710479"]

Latest stories

More than 12,000 Ghanaians were deported globally in last five years – GIS

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) revealed that 12,646 Ghanaians...

‘Your career has not come to an end when you leave a record label’ – Sefa

Ghanaian musician Sefadzi Abena Amesu, popularly known as Sefa,...

Govt has not issued financial clearance for new expenses – Govt’s transition team

The Government Transition Team clarified that no financial clearance...

Video: Joselyn Dumas shows off her dance moves in traffic to Tina Turner’s hit song

Award-winning Ghanaian actress Joselyn Dumas has captivated her Instagram...

EC suspends re-collation for Dome Kwabenya, Ablekuma North over missing pink sheets

EC suspends re-collation for Dome Kwabenya, Ablekuma North over...

NDC will act swiftly on first quarter budget once we assume office – Ato Forson

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson,...

Related stories

Biden grants full pardon to son Hunter amid criminal sentencing

US President Joe Biden has granted a full and...

Court issues 2-year suspended death sentence to former Bank of China Chair for bribery, others

Former Bank of China chairman Liu Liange on Tuesday received...

Ghanaians among UN peacekeepers injured in Southern Lebanon attacks

The UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon has reported...

Russia denies Trump told Putin to restrain Ukraine war efforts

The Kremlin has rejected media reports suggesting that US...

More than 100 detained as protesters defy Amsterdam’s ban on protests

Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested in Amsterdam on...

Traffic jam erupts as cyclists from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng for dumplings

A social media trend that began as a lighthearted...

Adin Ross wins $1.6m on Trump election bet after public endorsement

American streamer and social media influencer Adin Ross scored...