European Commission Opens Formal Proceedings Against Google Over Android Conduct

The European Commission has launched a formal investigation into Google's practices related to its Android mobile operating system, as well as applications and services for smartphones and tablets. The probe will assess whether Google's conduct has breached EU antitrust rules by impairing the development and market access of rival mobile operating systems, mobile communication applications, and services in the European Economic Area (EEA). This investigation is separate from the Commission's inquiry into Google's behavior in internet search. Google has led the development of Android since 2005, and the operating system has become the leading platform for smart mobile devices in the EEA, with the majority of smartphones in Europe running on Android.

Key Takeaways:

• The European Commission has opened a formal investigation into Google's conduct related to its Android mobile operating system, applications, and services.
• The investigation will focus on three allegations: hindering the development and market access of rival mobile applications or services, preventing manufacturers from developing and marketing modified versions of Android, and hindering the development and market access of rival applications and services through tied or bundled services.
• Google's agreements with manufacturers require them to install Google's proprietary applications and services, and the Commission will assess whether this constitutes anticompetitive practices.
• The investigation will consider whether Google's conduct has breached Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and Article 102 TFEU, which prohibit anticompetitive agreements and decisions of associations of undertakings and the abuse of a dominant position, respectively.
• The Commission will also examine the scope of Google's agreements with manufacturers and whether they have restricted competition and innovation in the mobile operating system market.
• The investigation will consider the impact of Google's conduct on the development and market access of rival mobile operating systems, applications, and services in the European Economic Area (EEA).
• Google has done business with Android since 2005, and a large portion of business mobile devices run on Android, with the operating system developing into the dominant contender in the market.
• Android is an open-source mobile operating system that can be freely used and developed by anyone, with Google working on creating a package of proprietary applications and features for the operating system.

Statistics:

• 2005: The year Google first began working on the Android operating system.
• 2023: The majority of smartphones in Europe run on the Android operating system.
• 63 percent: The percentage of smartphones in Europe using Android (Source: [1]).