EU: EC accelerates Google Android antitrust probe

Google could soon find itself facing more antitrust charges in Europe, this time over the way it runs the Android mobile platform.

The company has been under investigation for years now, on several fronts. It has already been hit with charges for allegedly boosting its own comparison-shopping services in its search results.

The European Commission has also been formally investigating Google over a range of Android allegations, namely that it forces smartphone and tablet manufacturers to preinstall a suite of Google services on their Android devices.

It also allegedly bans manufacturers that install Google services from developing alternate versions of Android.

Now, according to lawyers talking to both the Financial Times and Politico, the Commission has been sending out urgent requests for information from the complainants in the investigation.

That suggests competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager is about to move to the next stage of the process by issuing formal charges—a so-called statement of objections—perhaps as early as next week.

Full Content: Financial Times

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.