Google to be fined $36 million in Australia for search agreements

ACCC Legal Action: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has filed a lawsuit against Google Asia Pacific for anti-competitive agreements with Telstra and Optus regarding the exclusive pre-installation of Google Search on Android devices.

Google's Admission and Penalty: Google has admitted liability and proposed a penalty of A$55 million ($35.8 million), pending court approval, acknowledging that their agreements likely reduced competition.

Court-Enforceable Undertakings: Google and its parent company have agreed to undertake commitments to eliminate certain restrictions in contracts with Android manufacturers and telcos, allowing more search engine options for consumers.

Impact on Competition: ACCC Chair Gina-Cass Gottlieb highlighted that these changes could enhance search choices for Australians and provide opportunities for competing search providers, especially as AI tools evolve the search landscape.