The Brazilian Administrative Council for Economic Defense (Cade) has launched an investigation into Google over alleged restrictive practices related to its Android operating system. The inquiry comes amid broader scrutiny of big tech companies’ market behavior in Brazil.
Allegations Against Google
According to Cade, complaints suggest Google mandates app developers distributing through Google Play to use its proprietary payment platform exclusively. The company is also accused of discouraging users from installing apps outside the Google Play Store and prohibiting apps on its platform that offer access to other apps. Developers who fail to comply with these policies reportedly face account cancellations and app suspensions.
When approached for comment, Google declined to provide a statement.
Cade’s Expanding Role in Big Tech Oversight
This investigation aligns with recent efforts by the Brazilian government to bolster Cade’s authority in regulating digital platforms. The move is inspired by measures underway in countries like the UK, Japan, and Germany.
As part of these efforts, Brazil’s Ministry of Finance plans to propose new economic and competitive regulations tailored to digital platforms. This would include specific obligations for major players to address gaps in current laws, which are deemed inadequate for handling challenges posed by tech giants.
This case follows Cade’s recent administrative proceedings against Apple over alleged abuses related to its App Store, signaling a broader trend of intensified oversight of dominant tech companies in Brazil.
Google Faces Legal Battles Over Antitrust Violations
Google is at the center of a historic antitrust trial in the U.S., with the Department of Justice (DOJ) alleging that the company maintained monopolistic control over the search engine and online advertising markets. Recently, Judge Amit Mehta concluded that Google holds substantial market power in general search services and search ads, with shares of 90% and 88%, respectively. This dominance was reinforced by exclusive agreements with device manufacturers and browser developers, effectively limiting competition. These actions were deemed to have anticompetitive effects, violating U.S. antitrust laws.
The case has now entered the remedies phase, where the DOJ could propose measures ranging from requiring Google to stop exclusive agreements to potentially separating its search engine from other business units like Chrome and Android. The final decisions on these remedies are expected in mid-2025. This case, one of the largest antitrust trials in decades, could reshape the landscape for Big Tech by introducing stricter regulations and creating opportunities for competitors in the search market.
These proceedings highlight broader concerns about market concentration and fair competition, with significant financial and operational implications for Google and the broader tech ecosystem.
Sources: Olhar Digital, SearchEngineLand,
