Google will pay Australia $36 million over anticompetitive search deal with mobile carriers

Google has agreed to pay a $36 million fine to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for engaging in anticompetitive practices. The company had made deals with Australian telecommunications companies Telstra and Optus, which prevented them from pre-installing any other search engine on their Android devices, in exchange for a share of Google's ad revenue. The ACCC found these agreements to be in violation of Australian competition laws, as they restricted consumer choice and potentially led to higher costs or poorer service. The article notes that this comes at a time when AI-powered search tools are introducing new competition in the market. Google has admitted liability and cooperated with the ACCC investigation. The company has also offered a range of search provider options to EU Android users since 2020, following a previous antitrust ruling and fine. The article suggests that this case highlights the growing regulatory scrutiny of large tech companies' practices and the importance of maintaining a competitive landscape in the evolving search engine market.