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Italy: Watchdog opens antitrust probe into Google

By  |  May 19, 2019

Italy’s antitrust authority has become the latest international regulatory body to open an anti-competition investigation into Google, joining the European Union and the Competition Commission of India, reported CNBC.

The regulator opened the probe on Thursday, May 16, after energy company Enel Group complained that Google wouldn’t allow the “Enel X Recharge” app to work with Android Auto. Enel Group was created by the Italian government in 1962, and it was privatized in 1999, though its biggest shareholder is currently Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Google allows third-party developers to develop Android Auto-compatible versions of their apps, but only if they offer media or messaging services. Enel X Recharge is mostly dedicated to helping drivers find charging stations for electric cars.

The authority confirmed that the proceeding will be completed by May 30 next year. This comes just a month after the Italian authority began a preliminary investigation into Amazon over alleged abuse of its dominant position in e-commerce and logistics services.

Full Content: CNBC

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