The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has taken legal action against Google, accusing the company of making anti-competitive search engine deals in the country.
According to the ACCC, between December 2019 and March 2021, Google signed agreements with telecom companies Telstra and Optus. These deals made Google Search the exclusive default search engine on Android phones sold by these carriers. In return, Google shared a portion of its advertising revenue with the telecom companies.
Google has admitted to the conduct and worked with the ACCC to resolve the case. Both sides have asked the Federal Court to approve a penalty of A$55 million (about US$35.8 million). Google has also agreed to remove contract terms that forced pre-installation of its search app or limited the ability to change default search settings on Android devices.
ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said the case is important because it will give Australians more choice when it comes to search engines. She added that the decision could help smaller competitors get more visibility and create a fairer online marketplace.
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