Russian authority finds Google guilty of antitrust abuses

Google is illegaly forcing smartphone vendors to install its apps, including the Google Play store, on Android phones, the Russian antitrust authority has ruled.

Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service found that Google and the Irish subsidiary through which it contracts with customers outside the U.S. abused their market dominance.

The antitrust authority opened the case in February following a complaint from Russian search engine Yandex, which also develops mobile apps and runs its own Android app store.

Late Monday, the authority said Google had broken Russian law by requiring phone makers to install its own app store, applications and search system on Android phones intended for sale in the Russian Federation, and to place its apps on the devices' home screen.

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