Overview

• The CCI closed parts of ADIF’s complaint for lack of fresh evidence, citing earlier rulings in the Matrimony and Vishal Gupta cases under Section 26(2A).
• It has combined the ADIF case with four related investigations and instructed its Director General to conduct a consolidated probe of Google’s online display advertising and AdTech intermediation services.
• The commission said it was prima facie satisfied that Google’s conduct merited scrutiny under Section 4 of the Competition Act, which addresses abuse of dominant position.
• ADIF, representing startups such as Paytm, Matrimony.com and TrulyMadly, alleged Google self-preferenced its publisher ad server (DFP) with its exchange (AdX) and tied YouTube ad access to its DV360 platform, foreclosing rivals.
• Google contested the claims, asserting that its AdTech products are interoperable and that it faces competition from firms including Xandr, Amazon Ads and The Trade Desk.