The tone rises between Brussels and Google – Le Figaro

The European Commission survey last year on a possible abuse of dominant position related to the Android mobile system.

The tone Margrethe Vestager up between the iron lady of competition in Europe and Google, the US Internet giant. With the heart of the battle the Android operating system, which equips smartphones eight out of ten across the world.

The Danish commissioner opened there just a year a survey in abuse of dominant position against Android, on the grounds that the parent company would seek to hinder competition in the booming market of mobile Internet and advertising revenue. Google would thus renew, on a much carrier market today, the once successful offensive on the Web, thanks to its search engine.

Continue to innovate

The second stage of European action against Android is the “statement of objections”, ie the indictment duly prepared by Margrethe Vestager. These provide Google / Android incriminating evidence, so that the group can defend before the Commissioner shall, in the third stage, a final decision. If Europe chooses the penalty, the penalty is up to 10% of the worldwide turnover of the group, valued at $ 75 billion last year. That would be a record high, much higher than the historical punishment imposed on Microsoft in 2007.

Everything suggests that the committee decided to force the march. Brussels is careful to deny the impending prosecution and Margrethe Vestager publicly spoke Monday in Amsterdam file without concluding. It namely accuses Google of having “possibly cut the main consumer access” to competing applications via the Android platform. “We are not against the firms that succeed adds the Commissioner. But they have to keep innovating. And not abuse their power to prevent other companies to innovate. “

indispensable Applications

Google crossed swords and answered in the same tone, accusing the EU to stifle new technologies under the weight of constraints and bureaucracy. “There are places in Europe (…) where the first reflex is to protect the past at the expense of the future, says the Financial Times Matt Brittin, director of the US firm on the old continent. They are good people, but perhaps they should be better informed … “

European suspicions would focus on Google Play. It allows holders of a phone with Android to choose from a catalog of over one million tailored applications. The firm, according to competitors, abuses its dominant position by reserving this essential software download to those who have already installed Google’s flagship products on their mobile: email (Gmail), GPS maps (Maps) and motor research, among others.