Google has been fined 1.36bn rupees (£15.2m; $21.2m) by India’s Competition Commission of India (CCI) for abusing its dominance in the country. Based on findings of contraventions against Google, CCI imposed the penalty after taking into account its revenue from its India operations only.
Users searching flight details were directed to Google’s own flight search page, the Competition Commission of India found.
Rival businesses were disadvantaged by that “search bias”, the regulator said.
In its 190-page report, the CCI found that the company had abused its dominant position, causing harm to both its competitors and Google users.
The CCI in its order noted that the allegations against Google in respect of search results essentially centred around design of Search Engine Result Page (SERP). Exhibiting a self-imposed regulatory forbearance from scrutinizing product designs in ascertaining anti-trust violations, CCI noted in its order that product design is an important and integral dimension of competition, undue intervention in designs of SERP can affect legitimate product improvements. CCI further observed in its order that Google, being the gateway to the internet for a vast majority of internet users due to its dominance in the online web search market, is under an obligation to discharge its special responsibility.
In this backdrop, CCI found prominent display of Commercial Flight Unit by Google on Search Engine Result Page (SERP) with link to Google’s specialised search options/ services (Flight) in contravention of the provisions of Section 4(2)(a)(i) of the Act. CCI noted in its order that Google through its search design has not only placed its commercial flight unit at a prominent position on SERP, it has also allocated disproportionate real estate thereof to such units to the disadvantage of verticals trying to gain market access.
Besides, it was also found that Google has provided a further link in such commercial units which leads users to its specialised search result page (Google Flight) resulting into unfair imposition upon the users of general search services as well.
The ruling was prompted by a complaint filed in 2012 by Indian matchmaking website, Bharat Matrimony and a consumer protection group.
The CCI also noted in the order that ranking of Universal Results prior to 2010 were pre-determined to trigger at the 1st, 4th or 10th position on the SERP instead of by their relevance. Such practice of Google was unfair to the users and was found to be in contravention of the provisions of Section 4(2)(a)(i) of the Act. However, CCI noted in its order that since October, 2010, Google has made display of such results on free floating basis. Accordingly, taking Google’s submission on record, CCI refrained from
issuing any cease order and only directed Google to desist from such a practice in future.
The CCI has also observed in its order that Google was leveraging its dominance in the market for online general web search, to strengthen its position in the market for online syndicate search services. The competitors were denied access to the online search syndication services market due to such a conduct.
However, CCI did not find any contravention in respect of Google’s specialised search design (OneBoxes), AdWords, online intermediation and distribution agreements.
Google said it was “always focused on innovating to support the evolving needs of our users”.
The fine equates to about 5% of Google’s average annual revenues in India. Google will need to deposit the fine within 60 days.
