Is Google a bully? The members of Open Internet Project (OIP) certainly think so. In the second series of complaint with the European Commission, they accused Google of imposing measures that restrict the growth of Android smartphone makers in an effort to solidify their dominance.
OIP issued a statement saying, "Google once again, in breach of EU antitrust rules, abused its dominant position by imposing restrictions on Android device manufacturers and mobile network operators, aiming to preserve and strengthen its dominance in general internet search."
They pointed out that Google tends to deploy tactics, such as making it a requirement for smartphone makers to have Google chrome browser and Google search so that there can be an easy access to Google's other vested interests. Open Internet Project also said that Google makes use of delaying tactics to hinder its competition and also sometimes blurs the definition of comparison shopping.
This is not the first time when fingers have been raised on unethical practices carried out by Google, it was way back in 2014 when Open Internet Project complained to the European Commission, that Google purposefully directed users to its own services rather than playing fair and showing all the options available which some of its competitors also provide and also for forming iron clad contracts that prevent advertisers from moving their online portfolio of ads to other search engines. Google at that time, decided to be malleable and form a compromise but now in 2017, it seems to have forgotten to make good on its words.
What the Open Internet Project accuses Google is of running a digital supremacy, where anything other than its services is not going to be seen by the users and thus they will not be able to avail them. Thus Google will always remain at the forefront of the digital race by simply pulling its competitors down and not by fighting with them on equal grounds.
