Google Calls Rs1,338 Crore Penalty From CCI ‘Major Setback For Indian Users’

Delhi: Tech giant Google was slapped with a fine of Rs 1,338 crore by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Thursday. This huge fine of about $162 million for anticompetitive practices is a “major setback” for consumers and businesses in the country, said Google on Friday, according to a report by Reuters.Also Read – Google Fined ₹ 1,337 Crore by CCI In India For Anti Competitive Practices | Watch Video

“Android has created more choice for everyone, and supports thousands of successful businesses in India and around the world,” a Google spokesperson said on Friday. Also Read – Google Slapped with Rs 1,337.76 Crore Fine for Anti-competitive Ways | Details Here

“The CCI’s decision is a major setback for Indian consumers and businesses, opening serious security risks for Indians who trust Android’s security features, and raising the cost of mobile devices for Indians,” reported Reuters. Also Read – Google Will Soon Alert Parents When Their Kids Leave School. Check New Feature Here

GOOGLE ASKED TO CHANGE ITS APPROACH

Google will ow be reviewing the decision and accordingly make due evaluation for the entailing steps. Besides the fine, the CCI also ordered Google to change its approach to its Android platform and restricted it from certain revenue sharing agreements with smartphone makers.

In a statement issued by CCI, it said, “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.”

WHY IS GOGLE FINED?

The U.S. company is facing a series of antitrust cases and the tightening of existing tech-sector regulations in India.

The competition watchdog is separately looking in to Google’s business conduct in the smart TV market and its in-app payments system.

According to Reuters, the Android-related probe, started in 2019, was sparked by a complaint from two junior Indian antitrust research associates and a law school student. The Indian case is similar to one faced by Google in Europe, where regulators imposed a $5 billion fine on the company for forcing manufacturers to pre-install its apps on Android devices.

Google was ordered by India on Thursday not to restrict smartphone users from uninstalling its pre-installed apps like Google Maps and Gmail.

CCI also asked Google to allow users to pick their search engine of choice for all relevant services while setting up a phone for the first time. Google’s Android operating system powers 97 per cent of India’s 600 million smartphones, according to Counterpoint Research.