Refusing an app on the Google Play platform has cost the American company Google dear in Italy. An app developed by the Italian energy giant Enel that can be used to find charging stations for electric cars was rejected by Google. Again, Google is in the crosshairs of the AGCM, say the Italian watchdog that monitors fair trade practices (ACM).
The online search giant had already paid 2017 million euros in May 306 to regularize its situation with the Italian tax authorities. This time she is being prosecuted for abuse of her dominant position. The online search giant will have to pay a fine of more than 102 million euros, a high amount for a sanction from the national government.
Three out of four Italians use an Android phone and depend on Google Play to download applications. In addition, Google also has Android Auto's access to Juice Pass, Enel X's electric vehicle software, which allows owners of electric cars to locate charging stations in particular, has been banned for two years.
abuse of power
We all let it happen. Dominants determine what happens and are now increasingly the target of investigations for abuse of dominant position. As with the JuicePass application, this abuse of dominance does not only have economic consequences. According to the 'watchdog' it also has an impact on the quality of the content intended for the end user. Not the companies themselves that develop the software can determine what their product can or cannot do. Google also determines this during the verification process that precedes the publication of an app.
The fact that the control process safeguards the technical aspects, security and privacy protection is certainly a good thing for the end user. It is questionable that Google imposes rules on the producer or which functions are or are not allowed in their product.
Also read: ACM's increased focus on sector charging stations
