India Opens Google Antitrust Probe Over GPay & Play Store

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) ordered a detailed probe against internet giant Google, and its parent Alphabet, for alleged unfair business practices with respect to Google Pay as well as Google Play’s payment system, reported Yahoo. Google Pay is a popular digital payments platform while Google Play is the app store on its Android ecosystem.

“The Commission is of the prima facie view that the Opposite Parties have contravened various provisions of Section 4 of the Act… These aspects warrant a detailed investigation,” it said in a 39-page order.

The watchdog stated it would review claims of whether the Android-maker prominently promotes Google Pay during the setup of an Android smartphone (and whether phone vendors have a choice to avoid this); and if Play Store’s billing system is designed “to the disadvantage of both i.e. apps facilitating payment through UPI, as well as users.”

The informant, who has not been identified, alleged that in addition to Google Play Store’s billing system favoring Google Pay app, in-app purchases for apps downloaded through Play Store are also mandated to support Google Pay service “if they want to be listed on the Play Store” and they are required to pay a “high commission” for that.