Google to pay $36 million after striking deals that shut out rival search engines in Australia

Google on Monday agreed to pay AUD 50 million (USD 35.8 million) to the country’s consumer watchdog after it was found that its deal with Australia’s two largest telecom operators to pre-install Google Search on Android phones — while excluding rival search engines — had hurt competition in the market.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) stated that it has begun proceedings in the Federal Court against Google’s Asia-Pacific division. The court will now decide whether the AUD 50 million penalty is appropriate.