India’s top antitrust authority has found that Google has abused the dominant position of its Android operating system in the country and used its “huge financial muscle” to illegally harm competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Google has “reduced “the ability and incentive of device manufacturers to develop and sell devices operating on alternative versions of Android,” according to a June report by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement, Google said it was looking forward to working with the CCI to “demonstrate how Android has led to more competition and innovation, not less.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The technology giant could challenge any order in Indian courts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the latest antitrust setback for Google in India, where it has a number of probes in the payment apps and smart TV markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
India is one of Google’s most important growth markets. Last year, the technology giant announced it would spend $10 billion over five to seven years in the country through equity investments and tie-ups, its largest investment ever made in a major growth market.<\/p>\n\n\n