Particle.news
Download on the App Store
20 ARTICLES
·
3d ago

ACCC Takes Google to Court Over Android Search Deals as Company Proposes A$55 Million Penalty

The Federal Court will determine whether the proposed sanction is appropriate.

Image
A Google logo is seen at a company research facility in Mountain View, California, U.S., May 13, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
FILE - A woman walks by a giant screen with a logo at an event at the Paris Google Lab on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit in Paris, on Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus,File)
Image

Overview

  • The ACCC filed Federal Court proceedings against Google Asia Pacific over 2019–2021 understandings with Telstra and Optus that required exclusive pre‑installation of Google Search on Android phones in exchange for ad‑revenue sharing.
  • Google has admitted the arrangements were likely to substantially lessen competition, amounting to two contraventions of section 45(1)(a) of the Competition and Consumer Act.
  • Google and its US parent signed a court‑enforceable undertaking to remove certain pre‑installation and default search restrictions from contracts with Android device makers and Australian telcos.
  • Google and the ACCC jointly submitted a proposed total penalty of A$55 million, with the Court to decide on the penalty and any further orders.
  • Telstra, Optus and TPG provided undertakings in 2024 not to renew or make exclusive search‑default deals and are not parties to the current case.