This Article is From Sep 02, 2015

'Unfair, Biased', Says India's Regulator on Google: 10-Point Guide

'Unfair, Biased', Says India's Regulator on Google: 10-Point Guide

"The conduct of Google is found to be unfair and discriminatory," the commission's 714-page report says. (File Photo)

New Delhi: Google faces the danger of penalty in India for abusing its dominant position in online search.

Here is your 10-point cheat-sheet to this story:

  1. India's anti-monopoly watchdog has investigated Google for more than two years. A preliminary report has been submitted to the top officers of the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

  2. The company has been indicted for distorting its famous internet search results to favour its own services, suggesting breaches of competition law.

  3. "The conduct of Google is found to be unfair and discriminatory," the commission's 714-page report says, according to news agency AFP. "Google steers users to its own products and services, and produces biased results," according to the report.

  4. The initial complaints of Google abusing its position in online search were filed by matchmaking website Bharat Matrimony and a not-for-profit organization called Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS).

  5. "The fact is that Google is the market leader but it used this dominant position to push for its own backed services. We are not against Google, but want economic democracy" says Pradeep S Mehta, a top officer with the non-profit.

  6. Google is expected to present its defence before the competition commission on the 17th of this month.

  7. "We're currently reviewing this report from the CCI's ongoing investigation," a Google spokesman said in a statement. "We continue to work closely with the CCI and remain confident that we comply fully with India's competition laws."

  8. The quasi-judicial regulatory body can either order the company to halt what it deems unfair practices or fine it even as much as 10 percent of its revenues. But if found guilty, Google is expected to challenge the decision in court.

  9. Google, which just last month appointed India-born Sundar Pichai as its new CEO, is already facing a billion-euro fine from the European Union after accusations the company cheated competitors by distorting Internet search results in favour of its shopping service. Google has rejected those charges.

  10. US regulators concluded in 2013 there was not enough evidence to show the brand manipulated its search results to the detriment of competitors.



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