Google is now facing an antitrust investigation in India for allegedly abusing its dominance in the smart TV market, reported Reuters. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has been looking into the company for allegedly hurting competitors by forcing smart TV manufacturers to use Google's Android operating system, or even prohibit them from developing modified versions of Android. The case against Google, which CCI has been looking into since June, was reportedly filed by lawyers Kshitiz Arya and Purushottam Anand. The complaint alleges that smart TV makers who wish to use Google's operating system are forced to sign agreements that prohibit them from partnering with developers of modified versions of Android, unnamed sources told Reuters and Times of India. For instance, if you are a TV manufacturer and want to use Android for smart TVs, you will not be allowed to tie up with Amazon which develops the Android-based Fire TV operating system. CCI has directed Google to respond to the allegations, and the company has reportedly asked for more time. What's a smart TV? Smart TVs are internet-enabled TVs with readymade support for streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, internet TV and other functionalities. According to a report by Counterpoint Research, Android was the OS used in 30% of all smart TV sold in 2019. The report noted that Android also dominates the Indian smartphone market, which may influence consumer smart TV purchase decisions. We reached out to Google, which declined to comment on the matter. A spokesperson…
