Brussels criticizes Google’owi abuse of dominant market position – Republic

– There is evidence that the strategy of Google’s mobile market is to increase its market position in Internet search – said Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. After a year of investigation Dane announced to be sent to the American company called. Statement of Objections, which collects all the charges.

The main point is how we treat the producers and sometimes telecommunications operators selling devices running Android, whose share of the EU market is approx. 70 percent.

Android is developed by Google’s open system to which companies can create their improvement and their applications. But – according to Brussels – Google restricts them these opportunities and pushing its Internet search engine Google Search as well as its web browser Chrome. It does this in several ways. For example, it allows manufacturers to install a key for Google users Playstore, which store all the applications, only under the condition that the Google Search and Chrome will be set on the device as the default applications. EC even claims that an American company offers financial incentives to equipment manufacturers, if they decide to install only Google Search. According Vestager such a policy strengthens the dominant position of the company. Dane noted that currently as many as half of Internet traffic passes through mobile devices, and this share will increase. And that is why the European Commission should more here to watch a level playing field.

Google rejects the allegations and claims that anyone can install on your Android device, any written for this operating system application, there must be no application Google . – Our agreements with partners are entirely voluntary: everyone can use Android without Google. You can try, just download the entire operating system for free, modify it in any way and build your own phone – said Kent Walker, Google’s vice president.

The accused company now has the right to defense. On the basis of arguments by the EC could theoretically still change your mind. However, if you come to the conclusion that all or part of the charges is still valid, then it will issue a decision ordering Google’owi change its policy. If he does not, he faces a maximum penalty of up 10 percent. its global revenue, or 7.5 billion euros. In practice, companies usually go for a settlement, and if it comes to penalties, it never reaches it maximum ceiling. In the history of EU competition policy, the most common and most punishable company was Microsoft. In total, from 2004 to 2013. Four times, for a total amount of 2.2 billion euros.