Google claims that CCI orders will harm users and increase the cost of smartphones | Digit

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) placed a fine of ₹1337.76 crore on Google in retaliation for the company abusing its monopoly over Android. It also asked the company to remove its restrictions on smartphone manufacturers being able to pre-install apps. Three days ago, on January 11, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) refused the stay order on the grant, and the Supreme Court agreed to entertain Google’s request for another stay order. 

Google has posted a reply to the CCI

Before the hearings, Google posted a response that allows its stakeholders and users to understand the implications of the fine and what the CCI is asking it to do. The company believes that the ruling comes as a blow to the efforts in accelerating digital adoption in India. It says that its free Android services play a critical role in making smartphones easier to afford as well as transforming India into a digital-friendly nation. 

Google’s response to CCI rules

The company said “For a country like India, where the cost of adoption is the biggest barrier to digitisation, this has had profound implications. More users have incentivised more developers, and each of those developers achieves immediate scale by writing a single app for Android.”

Google also addressed forked Android versions. “Devices built on incompatible ‘forks’ would prevent Google from securing those devices, as these versions will not support the security and user safety features that Google provides. Lack of robust and consistent security upgrades will leave the users of those devices exposed to cybercrime, bugs, and malware – which is most troubling for the millions of new internet users who are especially vulnerable.”

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