Google Calls India's Antitrust Body 'Habitual Offender' After Document Leak
Google has accused India's antitrust body of unlawfully leaking confidential documents and has even sued the CCI. Here's the down low
Google accused India's antitrust body of being a "habitual offender" in court on Friday, while referring to a recent document leak which showed how Google had been indulging in anti-competition practices in the country.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) rejected the accusation of leaking confidential information.
What is happening with Google in India?
On Saturday, the Times of India reported that CCI's investigation had found that Google was abusing its market monopoly in relation to the Android operating software. In addition, the document accused Google of stifling competition of manufacturers.
Reuters
Clearly, Google wasn't pleased. On Thursday, the company sued CCI in the Delhi High Court, claiming that the antitrust body breached confidence by unlawfully disclosing confidential findings.
Also read: India's Antitrust Body Finds Google Is Abusing Its Market Dominance: What's Next?
The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for Monday, September 27. The probe against Google began in 2019, after CCI found that Google was using its market dominance in India to limit the ability of mobile makers to opt for other versions of its Android OS.
Reuters
The probe also found that Google forces mobile makers to mandatorily pre-install apps, which CCI feels is "imposition of unfair conditions", which is against India's anti-competition law. In addition, it revealed how Google uses its Play Store to stifle competition.
Also read: Top 5 Tech Blows Of The Week: Twitter Pays $800 Million, India Questions Google
AFP
The report runs into 750 pages and highlights how Google forces contracts onto device makers and app developers in a bid to ensure its own products from the same domain are prioritised within the Android ecosystem.
This showdown between Google and CCI isn't expected to cool down anytime soon. Do you think CCI should have done more to prevent the leak or is Google simply overreacting?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. And for all things technology and science, keep visiting Indiatimes.com.
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