U.S. Investigates Google Over Anti-Competitive Android Practices

As a side note, FTC has investigated Google’s Internet search business two years ago, so we’ll see what happens next.

Following “two complaints”, the EC said it will examine whether Google has illegally hindered the development and market access of rival mobile operating systems, and will assess whether Google has prevented smartphone and tablet manufacturers developing and marketing modified and potentially competing versions of Android.

So, what’s happening? Well, the Federal Trade Commission talked with the Justice Department and agreed to investigate Google’s Android business.

Rival technology companies allege that Google gives priority to its own services on Android while restricting those of competitors, the report said.

The investigation is now in the early stages, according to Bloomberg’s report.

Spokesmen for the FTC and Google declined to comment.

Back in April, the European Commission (EU) officially accused Google of abusing its dominant position on the market in Europe. The European Union is also gunning for Google over its search engine.

“The question for Android is do they really have sufficient market power, particularly in a world where there are other mobile-phone operating systems?”

The FTC and Google have been unavailable for remark. Staff members had recommended bringing an antitrust case against Google, arguing it had unlawfully maintained a monopoly over Internet search that harmed consumers, according to the document.

It should be noted that the inquiry has just begun, and the FTC may eventually decide to not move forward with a case against the firm.

Google said, “We take invalid traffic very seriously and have invested significantly in the technology and team that keep this out of our systems”. Regulators are still going through the information, said the people, who requested anonymity because the matter isn’t public.