Google fined a record $5 billion by EU
European Union regulators have awarded a fine over android antitrust case in favour of Google with a record of $5.06 billion for using its Android mobile operating system to squeeze out rivals, and ordered changes to its business that could loosen the company’s grip on its biggest growth engine: mobile phones. As Android is an open-source and free operating system, device manufacturers still have to obtain a license, with certain conditions, from Google to integrate its Play Store service within their smartphones.
The European Commission levied the fine Wednesday, saying that Google has broken the law by forcing Android smartphone manufacturers to pre-install its own mobile apps and services, like Google Search, Chrome, YouTube, and Gmail, as a condition for licensing. Secondly, Google's app and services an unfair preference over other rival services, preventing rivals from innovating and competing, which is "illegal under EU antitrust rules."... Read More