Google Maybe Fined A Record $2.7 Billion By EU For Abusing Its Android Monopoly

Google has long been accused of using Android to solidify its position in the search engine space. The EU (European Marriage) has been investigating these charges for quite some fourth dimension and it seems to have reached a decision to punish the Mount View giant for abusing its position of power.

According to a written report in The Telegraph, the EU is expected to manus down a record fine of close to ii.1 billion pounds (approx. $2.78 billion) to Google later this week. The consequence is expected to exist announced on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Google's practices in the EU have been investigated past European Commission'due south contest chief Margrethe Vestager, who's tackled the tech giant's bullying complaints over the past three years. An investigation into Google'south practices was launched when the complaints of illegally forcing smartphone makers to install its apps on their devices came to low-cal.

The complaints state that Google offers its Android mobile OS for free to partner vendors but has 'exclusivity agreements' that require them to install the Google Chrome browser and Search app in commutation of access to Google Play Store. The tech giant has as well been accused of using its search engine to further its online shopping business.

These are the main reasons behind the complaint, where the petitioners country that it harms the rivals, who run similar services such as browsers or search engines in the Eu. The extensive reach of Android, close to 74 percent in the European union, was their cause for concern as Google now had the power to influence the user practices. Thus, they claimed that Google tries to eliminate all the contest by edifice a monopoly for itself.

The tech behemothic, on the other hand, argues that such agreements help Android remain free and requite them the arsenal to compete against rivals like Apple.

The European union has previously slapped a massive $2.78 billion monopoly corruption penalisation over the Mount View giant, but the latest fine is expected to exceed information technology. The committee has the power to fine Google up to 10 percent of its parent company Alphabet's annual turnover, which lies around 9.5 billion euros or $xi.1 billion.

This means you can expect the fine against Google to be almost 2.4 billion euros (approx $2.eight billion) for abusing its power position. It too implies that information technology would no longer exist a necessity for Android phones sold in the Eu to come pre-loaded with some Google apps, which could drive the traffic to Bing, Firefox and others. So, what is your opinion on this fine? Let us know in the comments beneath.