Play Store policies: Competition commission slaps Rs 936.44 crore penalty on Google for THIS reason

The Competition Commission on Tuesday slapped a penalty of Rs 936.44 crore on Google for abusing its dominant position with respect to Play Store policies and directed the company to cease and desist from unfair business practices. In a release, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said it has also directed to modify its conduct within a defined timeline.

This is the second major CCI ruling against Google in less than a week. 

On October 20, the watchdog imposed a penalty of Rs 1,337.76 crore on the company for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets in relation to Android mobile devices and ordered the internet major to cease and desist from various unfair business practices.

The regulator, which passed the order after ordering a detailed probe more than three years ago, has also directed Google to modify its conduct within a defined timeline. Android is a popular open-source, mobile operating system installed by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of smartphones and tablets.

Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said openness, which is free and fair internet, is a firm policy goal for the government. "Open internet is what India expects - that is an internet where free choice expectations of consumers, is not distorted by the market power of any company - big or small - foreign or Indian," Chandrasekhar said.