The EU has charged Google with abusing the dominance of its Android operating system, limiting competition and “stifling innovation”.

In a statement released today, the European Commission accused Google of implementing a strategy across its mobile devices that would advance in dominance in internet search. It said:

“First, the practices mean that Google Search is pre-installed and set as the default, or exclusive, search service on most Android devices sold in Europe. Second, the practices appear to close off ways for rival search engines to access the market, via competing mobile browsers and operating systems. In addition, they also seem to harm consumers by stifling competition and restricting innovation in the wider mobile space.”

80 percent of smart mobile devices in Europe and the world run on Android, Google’s own operating system. By pre-installing Google apps such as Maps and Gmail, competition from other internet companies is inherently limited.

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager commented:

“A competitive mobile internet sector is increasingly important for consumers and businesses in Europe. Based on our investigation thus far, we believe that Google’s behaviour denies consumers a wider choice of mobile apps and services and stands in the way of innovation by other players, in breach of EU antitrust rules”.

Google have swiftly responded to the EU’s accusations with a statement from general counsel Kent Walker, who made it clear that Google will work “with the European Commission to demonstrate the careful way we’ve designed the Android model in a way that’s good for competition and for consumers.”

This is not the first case made against Google, who have previously been subject to EU charges over its shopping service in Internet searches.

20/04/2016