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CCI launches
fresh probe on Google
Business Line,
July 10, 2012 |
Search major
accused of driving users to ancillary services owned or operated
by it
The Competition Commission of India is
understood to have launched a fresh probe against Google following
a complaint by consumer advocacy group CUTS International.
CUTS had approached the Commission on June 8
to look into the alleged anti-competitive practices adopted by
Google. It had alleged that Google was abusing its dominant
position by imposing unfair and discriminatory conditions in
various ways. Among the major allegations was creating a search
bias which drives its customers to view only such ancillary
services as owned and operated by Google.
It also alleged that the Google was
manipulating searches by tweaking with the algorithmic as well as
paid search results by penalising certain Web sites and
advertisers. Also, CUTS said Google also denied access to content
to other search engines to ancillary sites and services operated
by it.
Mr Sharad Bhansali, Managing Partner,
APJ-SLG Law Offices, who is representing CUTS, said, “Initiation
of an enquiry by the CCI is an important and essential condition
for further investigation in the case. The Commission is at
liberty to call for further information even before ordering an
enquiry. However, in this case they found the information
sufficiently detailed and comprehensive to order the full enquiry.
The investigation will now be done by DG”.
Global outrage
The complaint against Google follows global
actions against it for its abusive practices.
The CCI is already investigating another
complaint against Google by Bharat Matrimony.com about
discriminatory practices related to Bharat Matrimony’s AdWords
programme.
The search engine has been facing music from
international regulators on similar counts. The European
Commission Competition Commissioner, Mr Joaquim Almunia, in May,
had said that their probe had identified four areas of significant
concerns, notably: ‘preferential treatment’ in the hierarchical
presentation of results; doubts over respect of intellectual
property rights; restrictions written into advertising contracts,
and the ‘portability’ of advertising across different internet
platforms
This news item can also be viewed at:
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
http://gadgets.ndtv.com/
http://www.law360.com/
http://in.news.yahoo.com/
http://news.taaza.com/
http://www.ummid.com/
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