India slaps penalty of over Rs 1,300cr on Google

The Competition Commission of India (CCI), fair trade regulator, today slapped a penalty of Rs 1,337.76 crore on Google for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets in the android mobile device ecosystem.

It further ordered Google to modify its conduct and practices within a defined timeline.

The CCI found that Google's business was purely driven by the ultimate intent of increasing users on its platforms so that they interact with its revenue-earning service, for instance, online search which directly affects sale of online advertising services by Google, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

The CCI also directed the internet major to cease and desist from unfair business practices.

The CCI said that mandatory pre-installation of the entire Google Mobile Suite (GMS) under Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA), with no option to uninstall the same, and their prominent placement amount to imposition of unfair conditions on the device manufacturers and thereby contravenes competition law.

Android is an open-source, mobile operating system installed by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of smartphones and tablets.