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Google’s anti-competitive activities are hurting Indian consumers and the economy by stifling its ‘Swadeshi’ (indigenous) competitors, said a top executive at local navigation firm MapMyIndia. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) fined the internet giant a staggering Rs 1,337.76 crore in October. After abusing its dominant position in multiple markets related to Android mobile devices, Google has ordered internet majors to end various unfair business practices.
Google has approached the Court of Appeals NCLAT to challenge the CCI order regarding unfair business practices. The Android mobile device ecosystem argues that the decision will hit Indian users and businesses who rely on Android’s security features, which can drive up the cost of mobile devices.
“Industry, governments, regulators, and those who have studied the issue in depth, Google is an anti-competitive monopoly, and through anti-competitive practices that have made it nearly impossible for Google to enter more and more new markets. Perpetuating monopolies is notorious, as alternative operating systems, app stores, and apps like Maps proliferate among OEMs and users.” MapMyIndia CEO and ED Rohan Verma said in a statement:
During COVID 2020, MapmyIndia’s app showed people near containment zones, testing centers, and treatment centers to help keep them safe, which Google Maps does not offer. However, Google has removed MapmyIndia’s app from the Play Store, he added.
According to Verma, the company notified Google of the removal of the MapMyIndia app multiple times, and after posting on social media and being picked up by some publications, Google eventually decided to remove the app. returned to
“These anti-competitive activities of Google stifle Indian consumers and harm Indian consumers and the Indian economy. Swadeshi’s competitors like MapmyIndia,” Verma said.
MapMyIndia was started in 1995 and launched an online map in 2004.
MapMyIndia did not respond to PTI’s inquiry as to whether the company would take any legal action against Google.
A Google spokesperson said: Indian users, developers and his OEMs have driven India’s digital transformation. We look forward to making our case and remain committed to our users and partners. ”
The Financial Standing Committee’s report on “Anti-competitive Practices by Big Tech Firms” addresses pre-regulation, categories of systemically important digital intermediaries, and new digital competition laws to curb anti-competitive practices in digital markets. is proposing.
In addition, the Commission urges digital market entities to cease “anti-steering,” “heavily discounting,” “self-preferring,” “search and ranking prioritization,” and other practices that affect competition in the marketplace. I asked for
As a key recommendation, the Panel identified major entities that could adversely affect competitive conduct in the digital ecosystem as “systemically important digital intermediaries” based on revenue, market capitalization, number of active businesses and end users. proposed to classify them as “persons” (SIDI).
Besides saying that governments need to consider and introduce digital competition laws to ensure a fair and transparent digital ecosystem, the Panel said: India’s Competition Commission and creation of a dedicated Digital Markets Division within CCI.
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The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said in October that Google would use its dominant position in markets such as online search and app stores for Android to boost mobile web browsers and apps like Chrome and YouTube in online video hosting. said it was protecting the position of
