Last month,we were telling you about a new businessinvolving Google and the European Commission, in the context of a case ofanti-competitive practiceregarding its Android mobile operating system and the fact that the latterstrongly encourages the use of Google appson the terminals on which the OS in question is installed.
Well there is something new because theEuropean Commissionhas just inflicted a heavyfine of more than 4 billion eurosfor abuse of dominant position with regard to Android and incitement to use Google services on smartphones equipped with Android.
Android, Google's mobile operating system, encourages people to use the Alphabet subsidiary's applications and services more than the solutions offered by the competition, whichthus limits the possibilities and choices of usersfinals.
Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager confirmed this fine and its amount on Twitter.4.3 billion euros, as well as the three counts concerning the use of Android.
Fine of €4,34 bn to@Googlefor 3 types of illegal restrictions on the use of Android. In this way it has cemented the dominance of its search engine. Denying rivals a chance to innovate and compete on the merits. It’s illegal under EU antitrust rules.@Googlenow has to stop it
— Margrethe Vestager (@vestager)July 18, 2018
Google CEO Sundar Pichai officially responded to this new fine,Google will appealof this decision of the European Commission.
Rapid innovation, wide choice, and falling prices are classic hallmarks of robust competition. Android has enabled this and created more choice for everyone, not less. This is why we intend to appeal today’s Android decisionhttps://t.co/TnpMZlDV8j
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai)July 18, 2018
Google has a90 day deadlineto correct its practices deemed abusive with European manufacturers and operators, and this would mean that smartphone manufacturers who use the Google Play Store have notno need to include Google products anymorelike the default Chrome browser on their smartphones.
This is not the first time that the Mountain View giant has found itself pursued by the EC for anti-competitive practices, this was notably the case a few years ago, Google having been accused of favoring its Google Shopping purchasing service on its search engine to the detriment of competing solutions, which earned it a fine of around 3 billion dollars.
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By : Keleops AG
Deputy editor-in-chief, also known under the pseudonym Teza. Former video games journalist, who has been immersed in tech and Apple products since his very first iPhone 3GS in 2009. He has since worked for several American tech sites and now for iPhon.fr. Incidentally YouTuber and Apple product specialist on the MobileAddict channel. To contact me: maxime[a]iphon.fr
