Google slapped down by India over ‘unfair search bias’
Google has found itself falling foul of government regulators once more, this time in India, after the internet giant was hit with a £15.2m fine after being found guilty of ‘unfair search bias’.
Google hit by India fine over ‘unfair search bias’
The Indian competition regulator stepped in after judging that the internet giant had abused its position of dominance in the country by directing users seeking flight details to its own dedicated flight search page.
Such ‘search bias’ practices placed both commercial rivals and Google’s own users at a clear disadvantage according to the Competition Commission of India, which laid out its findings in a 190-page report that is still being digested by Google.
Google’s latest regulatory woes stem from a 2012 complaint by Indian matchmaking website Bharat matrimony and a consumer protection group alleging malpractice.
In a statement, a Google spokesperson signaled that the company was ready to change but stated: “The Competition Commission of India has confirmed that, on the majority of issues it examined, our conduct complies with Indian competition laws.”
Just last week Alphabet revealed quarterly profits of $6.8bn.
Google continues to enjoy a monopoly on shopping searches in the EU, despite regulatory moves to foster greater competition.