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Google agrees $36 million fine for anti-competitive deals with Australia telcos
Google admitted that exclusive pre-installation deals with Telstra and Optus reduced competition and agreed to a $55 million fine, enabling more search engine choices for millions of Australians.
- Google agreed on 18 August 2025 to pay a A$55 million fine in Australia for paying Telstra and Optus to pre-install its search app on Android phones exclusively.
- From late 2019 through early 2021, agreements made by the telcos with Google limited competition by excluding other search engines, resulting in court-binding commitments from these companies last year.
- Google has agreed to eliminate limitations on pre-installing and setting default search engines in its agreements with Android device makers and Australian telecommunications providers, enabling them to offer alternative search services.
- ACCC Chair Gina-Cass Gottlieb stated that the decision paves the way for a significantly expanded range of search options for millions of Australians, while Google commented that it had addressed concerns related to outdated contract terms.
- The fine and undertakings signal efforts to increase competition in Australia’s search market, and the ACCC’s federal court proceedings will decide final penalties and remedies.
161 Articles
161 Articles
Google Fined $36 Million Over Anti-Competitive Deals With Australia Telcos
Google has agreed to pay a Aus$55 million (US$36 million) penalty for striking "anti-competitive" deals to pre-install only its own search engine on Android mobile phones sold by two leading Australian telecoms firms.
Australia consumer watchdog fines Google for anti-competitive practices
Google admitted to engaging in anti-competitive conduct by pre-installing its search engine on certain manufacturers’ and telcos’ Android mobile phones on Monday, as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) initiated Federal Court proceedings against Google Asia Pacific. The company agreed to pay a total penalty of $55 million. The ACCC investigation had uncovered that Google had entered into agreements with two telecom companie…
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Google agrees to US$36m fine over Android search deals
Google has agreed to pay a Aus$55 million (US$36 million) penalty for striking "anti-competitive" deals to pre-install only its own search engine on Android mobile phones sold by two leading Australian telecoms firms.
Google fined for anticompetitive deals | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Google has agreed to pay a $36 million fine for signing anticompetitive deals with Australia's two largest telcos that banned the installation of competing search engines on some smartphones, the U.S. tech giant and Australia's competition watchdog said.
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