The EU regulators some time ago fined Google with the sum of €4.3 billion ($5 billion) for breaking antitrust laws. According to the European Commission, Google had abused its Android market dominance in three key areas. The tech company has been bunding its search engine and Chrome apps into the operating system, blocked phone manufacturers from designing mobile devices that run forked versions of Android and also “made payments to certain large manufacturers and mobile network operators” to completely input the Google search app on handsets.
The European Commission has thus given the tech giant a grace of 90 days to put an end to its conduct. In exact words, Google needs to bring its “illegal conduct to an end in an effective manner within 90 days of the decision.” Google has to stop forcing manufacturers to preinstall Chrome and Google search with the aim to make Google Play Store available on mobile phones. Google also has to stop keeping phone manufacturers from using forked versions of Android since according to the commission Google “did not provide any credible evidence that Android forks would be affected by technical failures or fail to support apps.” Illegal payments by Google for app bundling was put to an end in 2014 when the EU started investigating.
Google said that it will appeal the decision. A spokesperson in a comment to our sources said that, “Android has created more choice for everyone, not less. A vibrant ecosystem, rapid innovation, and lower prices are classic hallmarks of robust competition. We will appeal the Commission’s decision.” As a result, Google has warned that the decision made by the EU could affect the free business model of Android in the future.
This $5 billion fine overshadows the previous fine of $2.7 billion fine from the European Union in the previous year that was brought about by the manipulated search results. Google is however still appealing that particular judgement.
