India imposes a $113 million fine on Google for exploiting the Play Store’s dominance.
Google Faces Another Fine in India for Play Store Antitrust Violations
The Competition Commission of India has ordered Google to pay a fine of 9.36 billion rupees ($113.5 million) for abusing its dominant position in the Play Store. This comes after a lengthy investigation where it was found that Google’s requirement for Play Store developers to use its billing system was deemed unfair. The regulator also stated that Google must allow third-party payment systems for app and in-app purchases within three months.
Transparency and Non-Discrimination Requirements
The Commission also required Google to be transparent with Play Store developers and prohibited the company from imposing unfair, discriminatory, or disproportionate conditions on them. Additionally, Google must have a clear data collection policy and cannot use transaction/consumer data acquired through the billing system to gain a competitive advantage.
Antitrust Concerns and Market Dominance
The regulator highlighted Google’s dominant position in various spheres, including smartphone operating systems, app stores, and web searching in India. This is not the first time Google has faced antitrust fines in the country, as it was previously fined $161.9 million for similar violations related to Android dominance. With 97 percent market share in India, Google Play is a popular platform, making India its largest market in terms of user numbers. Google has stated that its legal team is reviewing the recent ruling.
