Google Loses in India
Google Loses in India
Tim O’Connor – Center for the Preservation of Humanity – 10/21/2022
There are headlines around the world this morning about the Competitive Commission of India (CCI) fining Google $161.9 million. The fine is not all that impressive being as though Google’s net worth is somewhere around $251 billion. What is interesting are the regulations CCI imposed upon the multinational company after finding that it had basically monopolized several markets in India.
According to the Indian Express: “The antitrust watchdog [CCI] said Google had abused its dominance in the licensing of its operating system for smart mobile devices, app store market for Android smart mobiles, general web search services, non-operating system specific mobile web browsers, and online video hosting platforms.”
Another Indian Express article explains the regulations being placed on Google. The first explanation reads:
“One key part of the CCI order is that it wants Google to stop the mandatory pre-installation of the entire Google Mobile Suite on smartphones under its Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA) that its signs with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). The CCI noted in the press release that this sort of placement is unfair to “device manufacturers” and anti-competitive in nature.”
The second reads:
“The order also notes that Google cannot stop users from uninstalling its pre-installed apps nor can it stop them from choosing their default search engine at the time of device setup. Right now, Google Search is the default option on Android phones, but these order states users should be allowed to change this. “Users should have the flexibility to easily set as well as easily change the default settings in their devices, in minimum steps possible,” it notes.”
The third reads:
“This provision is something that other app developers have long asked for. Google can no longer stop developers from distributing their app stores through Play Store. This is a significant move because so far Google does not allow other app stores to appear on its Play Store. Further, Google cannot “restrict the ability of app developers, in any manner, to distribute their apps through side-loading,” according to the press release by CCI.”
Fourth:
“Google cannot link the license terms for Play Store (including Google Play Services) which is given to OEMs to any “requirement of pre-installing Google search services, Chrome browser, YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail or any other application of Google.” This means OEMs could soon release Android phones without these apps pre-installed on their devices.”
The fifth explanation reads:
“Google is also restricted from denying “access to its Play Services APIs to disadvantage OEMs, app developers and its existing or potential competitors.” CCI’s order notes that this is done to ensure “interoperability of apps between Android OS which complies with Google’s compatibility requirements of Google and Android Forks.” This will allow “app developers would be able to port their apps easily onto Android forks,” according to CCI.”
The sixth:
“The order also prohibits Google from offering “monetary/ other incentives” in order to enter into any arrangements with an OEM for “ensuring exclusivity for its search services.””
Seventh:
“The press release also notes that Google’s arguments that it faced “competitive constraints” from Apple had no merit. The Commission said that there was a difference in the two business models, noting that Apple is primarily focused on the sale of “high-smart devices with state-of-the-art software components,” while Google’s larger aim is to increase “users on its platforms” and help it earn ad revenue.”
And finally, the eighth regulation CCI placed on Google:
“The order also notes that Google has abused its position to dominate the online search market and the app store. It said it has denied market access to rival search apps and app stores as well as protected its position in the “non-OS specific web browser market through Google Chrome App” and thus violated several provisions in the law. It added that by making pre-installation of Google’s proprietary apps (particularly Google Play Store) conditional for signing agreements, Google violated the anti-trust law.”
According to Tech Crunch, 97% of the 600 million smartphones in India are Androids. 582 million people will have increased access to a variety of applications without Google being able to interfere in their installation and usage. Google, of course, does not see it that way. Google does not see it that way because they are evil. According to the same Tech Crunch article, “Google says the Indian competition regulator’s order is a “major setback for Indian consumers and businesses” and it is reviewing the decision to evaluate “next steps.”” According to Google, in a statement to Tech Crunch, “the regulator’s order also opens “serious security risks for Indians who trust Android’s security features,” and raises the “cost of mobile devices for Indians.””
It is being reported that Google will likely challenge the CCI’s order. That alone makes them evil because Google knows full well they were not playing fairly in those markets. The next steps; however, are indicative of how Google seems to plan to proceed in the immediate future. It seems that Google may actually create security breeches and will raise the cost of their devices. Google IS evil.
A lot of people see the Google’s of the world and wonder how this ‘capitalist’ company became so big and grew more and more corrupt. To associate Google with capitalism is a mistake though. The CCI recognized that and, through the regulations mentioned above, put a stop to some of their anti-capitalist practices. Monopolies should never exist in capitalism and Google absolutely has monopolies in the areas CCI noted. The idea that users have the option to choose what works best for them and non-Google developers are able to create applications for use on Android devices is India returning to capitalist ideas. What it results in is greater freedom for Indian consumers and jobs for Indian software development companies.
In an interview with Money Control, developer Rakesh Deshmukh of startup Indus OS’ put the CCI’s order in perspective. When asked about Google challenging the order, Deshmukh answered perfectly. “Google should be leading the marketplace for their product, not because of the proprietary rights they have over the technology. The strength lies in building a better ecosystem, not building competing tariffs against the ecosystem.” He hit the nail on the head – make the best product to lead the market and, even more importantly, don’t rig the game so that people are forced to only have one option. Deshmukh’s words ring true about the entire state of our world right now – all of these massive multinational companies have been doing exactly the same thing that Google has just been fined and regulated for.
Some industries operate slightly more clandestinely in their monopolization schemes. Look at Covid-19 for example. The only way to be ‘safe’ from this ‘contagious virus’ is to get ‘vaccinated.’ What is the alternative? Severe illness and death the ‘vaccine’ pimps inform the unvaccinated. And then there is a small, vocal, and powerful group who have come up with a third and fourth option for the unvaccinated – censorship and imprisonment. There are ‘alternatives’ to Pfizer’s jab – Moderna’s jab – which is the same thing. There is no option there.
In India’s case, Google screwed up because it didn’t even allow for the possibility of allowing competition. If they had included just a few competitors they would have been just fine – especially if Google could dictate the cost of their competitor’s services. Of course, that doesn’t mean that Google has the best product or service – it just means that, through collusion and collectivization within their industry, they could have made it seem as if they had competition when in reality those competitors were bought and paid for by Google.
India isn’t done with antitrust investigations into Google either. The CCI is also looking into Google’s business practices in the smart TV and in-app payment system markets. The CCI’s order comes several years after the European Union fined Google for similar reasons to the tune of $5 billion. Lawsuits in other jurisdictions are also pending. Epic Games and Match Group are suing Google for violating the United States’ Sherman Antitrust Act over anti-competitive practices. Rumble is suing Google along similar anti-competitive practices. The EU is about to sue them over antitrust issues again. It’s like Google just will not get it through their head to knock it off.
These lawsuits are good for forcing Google to compete fairly but leave ample room for their data collection and sales of that data. The Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, filed a lawsuit against Google on 10/20/2022. “Paxton is accusing the tech giant of unlawfully capturing and using the biometric data of people in Texas without their consent.”
Because Google is so large and operates in pretty much every nation, they are capable of massive censorship campaigns. Alex Jones was kicked off of everything Google in 2018. Laura Loomer, a Republican candidate in Florida in both 2020 and 2022, was banned by Google’s YouTube over what they deemed misinformation. I, personally, have two strikes on YouTube – one more and my account will be banned as well.
Google does all of this because they are evil. They are able to do it because of the size of their company and their business model. It is Google’s data collection and selling which needs to be criminalized. It is their business model which needs to be ripped apart. It is their censorship apparatus which needs to be made obsolete. There are plenty of competitors who would gladly take over Google’s services without all of Google’s legal and ethical problems. These lawsuits all represent a step in the right direction. Ending monopoly ‘capitalism’ in favor of actual capitalism is a good start. Hopefully Ken Paxton’s lawsuit is successful and adopted by every state in the union. Hopefully Laura Loomer and others who have been banned from YouTube will successfully sue Google for illegal censorship.
The evil in this world is nothing, if not organized. Google is a huge part of that organization and, thus that evil. If the likes of Google are not put in check and reined in; before any of us realize it they will just deplatform Jesus Christ entirely and anyone who speaks of Jesus Christ will be, likewise, deplatformed. I’m encouraged that there are some parties, India, Texas, and others taking action against this behemoth corporation.
Bless God and God bless.