Russia fines Google $6.7 million for violating competition law

Russia’s anti-monopoly watchdog said on Thursday it has fined technology giant Google 438 million rubles ($6.7 million) for violating competition law. The Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) said Google had forced mobile device manufacturers to pre-install its applications on mobile devices using the Android system, Xinhua reported. Google was also accused of placing its applications at priority positions on the home page of mobile devices to the detriment of alternative software. Google’s software also prevented the installation of applications of other developers, the FAS was quoted as saying. “The Competition Law must be observed by all the companies that supply their products to the Russian Federation, including multinational corporations,” Yelena Zayeva, Head of the Communications and Information Technologies Department of the FAS, said in the statement. The FAS said Google must pay the fine within 60 days after the order becomes effective. The Russian side is still discussing related issues with the company. The FAS ruled against Google last September over the company’s abuse of its dominant market position, following a complaint filed by Yandex, one of the leading Internet technology firms in Russia. Google has is also facing antitrust charges in the EU and is in line for a fine of $3.9 billion for allegedly abusing its search monopoly in the EU as well. IANS