Google has agreed to pay 55 million Australian dollars after the country’s consumer watchdog determined that the tech giant had hindered competition by paying Australia’s two largest telecom companies, Telstra and Optus, to pre-install its search app on Android phones, effectively excluding rival search engines. These agreements, active from late 2019 to early 2021, involved sharing advertising revenue generated from Google Search on Android devices. Google acknowledged that these arrangements significantly impacted competition and has since ceased making similar deals. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) noted that this resolution could lead to greater search engine choice for millions of Australians in the future. Although the fine awaits Federal Court approval, Google’s cooperation with the ACCC helped avoid a lengthy legal battle. A Google spokesperson expressed satisfaction in resolving the ACCC’s concerns and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to providing Android device makers with more flexibility to pre-load browsers and search apps, while maintaining features that support competition with Apple. Telstra and Optus confirmed their full cooperation with the ACCC and stated they would not enter into similar agreements with Google from 2024 onwards.
Has Google agreed to a $36 million fine for anti-competitive deals in Australia?
