CCI fines Google for non-compliance with disclosures

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a fine of Rs 1 crore ($16.6K) on Google Inc. for not heeding instructions, as per separate media reports citing a spokesman of the Indian fair trade regulator.

CCI had sought details from Google in a separate ongoing investigation against the company, but the firm failed to come out with the details sought.

The case relates to alleged abuse of market power by Matrimony.com Pvt Ltd, which is behind properties like BharatMatrimony.com among others. A separate NGO Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) is also among the petitioners.

Google has been facing headwinds globally over similar charges given its dominant position in internet search engine and this case marks one such instance where it gets into the cross-hairs in India.

In all such cases Google faces the charge that it gives prominence to its own content over third party content.

In February, Google had settled an anti-trust case with the European Commission as part of which, it had agreed to display results from at least three competitors, every time it displayed results of specialized searches.