Google Faces Antitrust Investigation By FTC Over Android

Google Logo

According to a recent report, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is looking into antitrust allegations against Google and their Android mobile OS.

US regulators reportedly launched the inquiry after meeting with rival tech companies saying that Google limits their access to Android in favor of its own apps and services, including Gmail, Chrome, and Maps. The antitrust investigation will try to determine if Google has created a monopoly that puts rivals at a disadvantage.

Google is already under a similar investigation for Android practices in Europe, such as the fact that the OS comes bundled with their own apps for email, browser, and more. As per Google Mobile Service license manufacturers has to use all of Google’s apps on their devices if they wanted to use one of them. The European Commission’s investigation suggests that because Android makes up over 50% of the smartphone market, manufacturers are forced in unfavorable terms.

Microsoft, of course, was itself dinged heavily in EU for pre-installing Internet Explorer on Windows 7 without giving consumers other browser options. Google’s situation with Android is similar, given that it owns over 50 percent of the smartphone market.

As yet, there are no details on what the US antitrust investigation is about, but it is possible that the FTC could be looking into the same thing as the European regulators.

This isn’t the first time Google has been targeted by the FTC in the US, as the regulating body conducted a probe into the company’s search engine business in 2013. They eventually decided not to file charges. The FTC was heavily criticized for that decision, especially after it accidentally posted a document leaking the names of the complainants in the case.

This time, however, the FTC and European Commission are investigating Google at the same time, though not exactly for the same things There is still much to be determined to see if the FTC and DoJ will have a case in this Android investigation.

As soon as we get some more information about the possible European and US antitrust investigations into Google’s mobile OS, we will let you guys know.

Source: Bloomberg

Tags:

Amarnath Natarajan Avatar

Help Us Grow

If you like this post, please share it with your friends.

You are free to copy and redistribute this article in any medium or format, as long as you keep the links in the article or provide a link back to this page.

Subscribe to Newsletter




Privacy Settings

Privacy & Cookie Overview

Our website uses cookies to provide you with the best user experience possible. These cookies are stored in your browser and perform essential functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website, as well as helping us to understand which sections of the website you find most useful and engaging.

To learn more, you can read our Privacy & Cookie Policy or reach out through our Contact form.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookies must always be enabled to ensure the proper functioning of this website and to allow us to provide you with excellent service. These cookies are also essential for saving your cookie preferences.

Google Adsense

We use Google AdSense to keep this site free by displaying relevant ads. AdSense requires essential cookies that cannot be disabled, but you can manage other cookies. We respect your privacy and provide options to control non-essential cookies.

For more details on how Google handles your data, visit Google's Data Usage Policy. Please review our Privacy Policy for more information on how we protect your data.

AddToAny

We use AddToAny for social sharing. It doesnโ€™t store cookies, ensuring a privacy-friendly experience. AddToAny complies with GDPR and CCPA by default.

For more, see their Privacy Policy.

OneSignal

We use OneSignal to send notifications to users who opt in. OneSignal complies with GDPR and is certified under the EU-US and Swiss-US Privacy Shield frameworks.

For more, see their Privacy Policy.

3rd Party Cookies

This website utilizes third-party cookies, which can enhance your experience and support our ongoing efforts to improve our services.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to collect anonymous data, such as visitor numbers and popular pages, to improve user experience and site performance. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us refine the site based on visitor activity.

For more information, see Googleโ€™s Privacy Policy.

Discover more from Prime Inspiration

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading