US Google facing 4 unfair trade probes

The Competition Commission had ordered probe against Google in four different cases for alleged abuse of dominant position while it has received a combined investigation report in two cases so far, Parliament was informed on Friday. 

Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley told the Lok Sabha that Competition Commission of India (CCI) has received four cases against Google for alleged abuse of dominant position.

CCI has directed its Director General (DG) to investigate these cases under the provisions of the Competition Act, he said in a written reply. “In two cases filed by Consim Info Pvt Ltd and Consumer Unity & Trust Society, both against Google Inc and Google India Pvt Ltd, a combined investigation report has been submitted by DG, CCI,” Jaitley said.

DG is the investigation arm of the regulator and cases are referred to it by the Commission when there is prima-facie evidence of violations. Two other cases have been filed against Vishal Gupta and Albion InfoTel Ltd. These have been filed against Google Inc, Google Ireland Ltd and Google India. “The cases filed do not allege any financial loss to the government,” Jaitley said. 

To a separate query on whether there have been violations of Companies Act, 2013, by private companies with regard to payment of salary and other allowances to employees, in the last three years, he said the relevant provisions came into force only from April 1, 2014. “The salaries of managerial personnel or employees of a private company, except the salaries of board level managerial personnel of a subsidiary of a listed company are not regulated under the Act,” he said in another written reply. 

Recently, Google opened its first campus for Asian startups and entrepreneurs in a glitzy neighbourhood of South Korea’s capital Seoul. Google cited South Korea’s flourishing startup scene and pervasive smartphone use as the reasons for picking Seoul after opening similar sites in London and Tel Aviv.