The European Commission announced on April 20 that it is filing antitrust charges against California-based Google, claiming that has abused its dominant position by "imposing restrictions" on Android device manufacturers.
The Commission stated that it is concerned by Google's attempt to "close off ways" for rival search engines to access the market by making it the exclusive search engine provider on European Android smartphones. This stems from Google Search being pre-installed or set as the default search engine on mobile devices. Since making its decision to file antitrust charges, the Commission has outlined a Statement of Objections to Google, as well as Alphabet.
"A competitive mobile internet sector is increasingly important for consumers and businesses in Europe," said Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. "Based on our investigation thus far, we believe that Google's behavior denies consumers a wider choice of mobile apps and services and stands in the way of innovation by other players, in breach of EU antitrust rules. These rules apply to all companies active in Europe. Google now has the opportunity to reply to the Commission's concerns."
The Commission initially voiced its concerns about Google's conduct in April 2015. It considered Google to be dominant in the area of general internet searches, licensable smart mobile operating systems, and app stores for the Android mobile operating system.
Antitrust rules were allegedly breached, according to the Commission, when Google required manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and the Chrome browser on devices. The Commission also claims that Google prevented manufacturers from selling smartphones running on competing operating systems based on the Android open source code.
According to findings from the Commission, Google has reduced the incentives of manufacturers and mobile network operators to pre-install other search services. It also claims that it has evidence that the exclusivity impacted what has been installed onto mobile devices in the past.
The Article 102 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union bans the abuse of a dominant position that could potentially affect trade and restrict competition. Google has market shares of 90 percent in more EU member states, according to the Commission. The Play Store accounts for 90 percent of the apps downloaded on Android devices in the EEA.
