Google Antitrust Case Impact and Findings

• Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., appealed against a judgment by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

• The CCI found Google engaged in anti-competitive practices, including mandatory use of the Google Play Billing System (GPBS) for in-app purchases.

• Google exempted its own app YouTube from these billing requirements, giving them a cost advantage.

• The Android licensing model required smartphone makers to pre-install Google’s apps, restricting consumer choice and suppressing innovation.

• Google was fined ₹936.44 crore and issued behavioural remedies, including directives to decouple Google’s payment GPBS for in-app purchases.

• Google argued its practices were designed to enhance user experience, maintain security, and enable a sustainable business model for the Android ecosystem.

• The NCLAT upheld several of the CCI’s findings, but reduced the financial penalty from ₹936.44 crore to ₹216.69 crore.

• The tribunal reinstated two key directions that Google must be transparent about its billing data policies and not use such data to gain a competitive advantage for its own apps and services.