Google Misused Android Dominance In India, Says Watchdog

Google has allegedly abused its dominant Andriod position in India to reduce the ability of device manufacturers to opt for alternate versions of its mobile operating system, news agency Reuters reported on Saturday.

A 14-page order from the Competition Commission of India (CCI), reviewed by Reuters, found Google’s restrictions on manufacturers seemed to amount to imposition of “unfair conditions” under the country’s competition law.

CCI had launched a probe in April against Google for its alleged leveraging of Android’s dominance in the Indian market to disadvantage rivals.

The case is similar to one Google faced in Europe, where regulators imposed a $5 billion fine on the company for forcing manufacturers to pre-install its apps on Android devices. Google has appealed against the verdict.

By making pre-installation of Google’s proprietary apps conditional, Google “reduced the ability and incentive of device manufacturers to develop and sell devices operated on alternate versions of Android”, the CCI said in the order. “It amounts to prima facie leveraging of Google’s dominance”.

Asked for comment, Google said Android had enabled millions of Indians to connect to the internet by making mobile devices more affordable. Google looked forward to working with the CCI “to demonstrate how Android has led to more competition and innovation, not less”, the company added.