New Delhi: Google has filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court against the Competition Commission of India relating to a leaked report of an ongoing investigation by the antitrust authority into its Android smartphone agreements. Google said it has not yet received or reviewed this confidential report.
Today, Google filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court seeking redress in this matter, specifically protesting against the breach of confidence which impairs Google’s ability to defend itself and harms Google and its partners, the company said.
The probe which was launched in April 2019 questioned Google whose Android OS has nearly 98% of the smartphone market along with several Indian and foreign tech companies including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Paytm, PhonePe, Mozilla, Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo and Karbonn. As per reports, the probe found Google India guilty of stifling competition and innovation to the detriment of the market and consumers in order to maintain its dominance in search, music (through You-Tube), browser (Chrome), app library (Play Store) and other key services.
The DG’s findings do not reflect the final decision of the CCI and the submission of the investigation report is an interim procedural step. Google has not yet had the opportunity to review the DG’s findings, much less submit its defence of any allegations, the company said in the statement.
Today, Google filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court seeking redress in this matter, specifically protesting against the breach of confidence which impairs Google’s ability to defend itself and harms Google and its partners, the company said.
“We are deeply concerned that the Director General’s Report, which contains our confidential information in an ongoing case, was leaked to the media while in the CCI’s custody. Protecting confidential information is fundamental to any governmental investigation, and we are pursuing our legal right to seek redress and prevent any further unlawful disclosures," a Google spokesperson said. "We cooperated fully and maintained confidentiality throughout the investigative process, and we hope and expect the same level of confidentiality from the institutions we engage with.”
The probe which was launched in April 2019 questioned Google whose Android OS has nearly 98% of the smartphone market along with several Indian and foreign tech companies including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Paytm, PhonePe, Mozilla, Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo and Karbonn. As per reports, the probe found Google India guilty of stifling competition and innovation to the detriment of the market and consumers in order to maintain its dominance in search, music (through You-Tube), browser (Chrome), app library (Play Store) and other key services.
The DG’s findings do not reflect the final decision of the CCI and the submission of the investigation report is an interim procedural step. Google has not yet had the opportunity to review the DG’s findings, much less submit its defence of any allegations, the company said in the statement.
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