Google is in the spotlight again. This time, is the European business and organizations coalition FairSeach the one that has filed a complaint with the European Commission denouncing its allegedly anti-competitive strategy.
The companies’ group, which includes Microsoft amid its members, do advocacy to prevent anticompetitive behaviors on the Internet. They assure Google tries to dominate the market through mobile, promoting its own apps and data by taking advantage of Android.
Thomas Vinje, Brussels-based counsel to the FairSearch coalition stated in a press release:
Google is using its Android mobile operating system as a ‘Trojan Horse’ to deceive partners, monopolize the mobile marketplace, and control consumer data (…) We are asking the Commission to move quickly and decisively to protect competition and innovation in this critical market. Failure to act will only embolden Google to repeat its desktop abuses of dominance as consumers increasingly turn to a mobile platform dominated by Google’s Android operating system.
According to FairSearch, Google’s predatory distribution of Android at below-cost makes it difficult for other providers of operating systems to recoup investments in competing with Google’s dominant mobile platform.
Google has been investigated by the Commission for antitrust claims since 2010. The company did not give a word about the case.
