Italy’s Antitrust Watchdog Hits Google With $120M Fine

The Italian antitrust authority announced on Thursday, May 13, that had it imposed a fine of €102 million (US$123 million) on Google for abuse of a dominant position through its Android mobile operating system and app store Google Play.

“Google has a dominant position which allows it to control the reach app developers have on final users,” the regulator said in a statement.

The ruling condemns the company for not allowing drivers of electric cars who need to recharge their vehicles to use JuicePass, an electric-vehicle services app from Italy’s Enel X, to operate on Android Auto, which favors Google Maps.

The Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato warned that Google’s “contested conduct can influence the development of e-mobility in a crucial phase… with possible negative spillover effects on the spreading of electric vehicles.”

As part of the ruling, Google will have to authorize Juice Pass on Android. A company spokesperson told the Ansa news service that the company didn’t agree with the decision and will examine it in detail before deciding on the next steps. 

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