BENGALURU (Reuters) – Alphabet’s Google on Friday ordered it to change its approach to its Android platform, fined $162 million for anti-competitive behavior by India’s antitrust watchdog. announced that it will appeal the judgment.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said in October that Google would use its dominant position in markets such as online search and app stores for Android to boost mobile web browsers and apps like Chrome and YouTube in online video hosting. said it was protecting the position of
A Google spokesperson said Friday, “We believe the CCI’s decision will be a major setback for Indian users and businesses, who trust Android’s security features and can drive up the cost of their mobile devices. We have decided to appeal the CCI’s decision.”
Reuters previously reported that the CCI ruling worried Google and called for broader remedial action.
Counterpoint Research estimates that about 97% of India’s 600 million devices are running Android.
“Android has brought tremendous benefits to Indian users, developers and OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and has driven India’s digital transformation. We remain committed to our users and partners,” Google said.
Google faces increased antitrust scrutiny around the world, and earlier this year a European court upheld a 2018 ruling that found the company to impose “illegal restrictions on manufacturers of Android mobile devices.” There was a major setback that greatly supported the decision to
Google also plans to appeal this decision, which will result in a record $4.1 billion fine.
The company has also been accused of signing restrictive anti-competitive agreements while licensing the Android operating system to smartphone players.
According to the US tech giant, Android offers more choices for everyone and such deals help keep the operating system free.
(This story has been refiled to add the word “according to” which was removed in the last paragraph)
(Reporting by Anuran Sadhu, Bengaluru; Editing by Sohini Goswami)
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