Italy fines Google $123m for abuse of dominant market position
An Italian competition watchdog announced on Thursday it had fined Google 102m euros for abuse of its dominant market power in relation to its Android mobile operating system and its app store Google Play.
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"Through android and the 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 regulator said Google did not allow JuicePass, an electric vehicle (EV) services app from Enel X, to operate on Android Auto in order to favour its own Google Maps.
The watchdog rebuked that anti-competitive behaviour, saying that it had not impeded the app from building a user base for two years.
"The contested conduct can influence the development of e-mobility in a crucial phase [...] with possible negative spill-over effects on the spreading of electric vehicles," the antitrust regulator said.
The regulator also requested that Google make JuicePass available on Android Auto.