Anti-trust body Competition Commission of India (CCI) has launched an investigation against online search engine Google to ascertain whether it has abused its dominant position and indulged in discriminatory trade practices as claimed by Chennai-based Consim India Pvt Ltd, which owns the matrimonial Website, bharatmatrimony.com.
“We have initiated investigation against Google and the report is expected to be ready in three or four months,” Ashok Chawla, chairperson, CCI told Hindustan Times.
CUTS (Consumer Unity & Trust Society), a non-profit consumer advocacy group, has meanwhile said it will lodge a formal complaint on the issue with the anti-trust body next week. Earlier, CUTS sent a preliminary information report to CCI asking it to take suo moto action against Google.
“Though we have sent a preliminary investigation report to CCI, we would be filing a formal complaint against Google by next week,” Pradeep S Mehta, secretary general, CUTS said.
CUTS has in its preliminary report indicated that Google has used its dominant position in online advertising markets, which is in turn impacting the growth of Indian search and advertising space.