In its order, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said
Google dominates certain online search services in the country and may have
imposed unfair conditions on news publishers.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The complainant, Digital News Publishers Association, which
comprises the digital arms of some of India's biggest media companies, said
Google denied fair advertising revenue to its members.
"In a well-functioning democracy, the critical role
played by news media cannot be undermined," the CCI order said. "It
appears that Google is using its dominant position in the relevant markets to
enter/protect its position in the market for news aggregation service."
News organisations, which have been losing advertising revenue
to online aggregators such as Google, have complained for years about tech
companies using stories in search results or other features without payment.
The CCI order also mentioned new rules in Australia and
France — fuelled by media lobbying and public pressure — that have led to
licensing deals around the world collectively worth billions of dollars. -Reuters