Russian watchdog imposes $6.8 million fine on Google

Russia's anti-monopoly watchdog on Thursday said Google would have to pay a $6.8 million fine.

Google, google antitrust laws, Google Russia fine, Google Anti-trust case, Google, Google Russia case, Russia fines Google, Google EU Anti-trust, Google Antitrust, technology, technology news

Russia’s anti-monopoly watchdog on Thursday said Google would have to pay a 438 million rouble ($6.8 million) fine.

Russia’s anti-monopoly watchdog on Thursday said Google would have to pay a 438 million rouble ($6.8 million) fine for pre-installing applications on mobile devices running its Android operating system. The watchdog, FAS, ruled last September that Google had broken anti-monopoly laws, following a complaint by Russia’s Yandex.

“We have received a notification from FAS about the imposed fine,” Google’s press service said on Thursday in a written statement. “We will familiarise ourselves with the ruling before deciding on further actions.” The watchdog said Russian customers would benefit from its decision and that international corporations have to obey Russian law defending fair competition as well as other companies.

Google is facing anti-trust in the European Union as well over Search dominance as well as its Android mobile OS. In June this year, Google was slapped with fresh EU anti-competition charges around its advertising business. A report from AFP said, Margrethe Vestager, the powerful EU Competition Commissioner, could open two new in-depth investigations against Google as early as August. The first case would involve the Silicon Valley giant’s lucrative advertising business, while the second would deepen an existing case targeting online shopping practices.

Brussels also charged Google with abusing the dominance of its Android mobile phone operating system. The Android operating system accounts for about 80 percent of the world market for mobile phones, far ahead of Google’s closest rival, Apple.

Also read: Google faces new EU anti-trust charges

The EU has accused Google of obstructing innovation by giving unfair prominence to its own Android apps, especially its search engine, in deals with mobile phone manufacturers such as Samsung and Huawei.

If found at fault, Google risks a fine equal to up to 10 percent of worldwide global sales for one year, which would amount to a $7.4 billion on the basis of 2015 revenues. Alphabet Inc’s Google has been given an extra six weeks to early September to respond to EU charges that it uses its dominant Android mobile operating system to squeeze out rivals.