1. Google launches anti-misinformation campaign in India
Tags: National
Social media giant Google's subsidiary Jigsaw is launching a new anti-misinformation project in India. The project aims to prevent the misleading information that has been blamed for inciting violence and deaths. Like other countries, misinformation spreads rapidly across India, mostly through social media, creating political and religious tensions.
The government of India has repeatedly called upon the social media giants like YouTube, Google, Meta (Facebook) and Twitter to take steps to counter the spread of fake news.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has repeatedly invoked "extraordinary powers" to block Google owned YouTube channels, and some Twitter and Facebook accounts, used to spread harmful misinformation.
Google's initiative will use "prebunking" videos. Prebunking videos are designed to counter false claims before they become widespread .It will be used on YouTube platforms and other social media sites.
Jigsaw in collaboration with a German NGO Alfred Landecker Foundation and philanthropic investment firm Omidya Network India, and a number of smaller regional partners has produced five videos in three different languages.
Initially the videos will be in Bengali, Hindi and Marathi.
Google is an American multinational company formed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998. In 2015, Google was reorganized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Alphabet Company.
It is an American multinational technology company that focuses on search engine technology, online advertising, cloud computing, computer software, quantum computing etc.
Chief Executive Officer: Sundar Pichai
2. CCI fines Google Rs 1337.76 crore for abusing its dominance in the Smartphone Android platform
Tags: Economy/Finance
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed a Rs 1,337.76 crore fine on Google, owned by Alphabet company for abusing its dominant position in the Android mobile device market.
The antitrust regulator also barred Google from conducting unfair business practices, including offering incentives to smartphone makers for exclusively carrying its search services.
Background to the case
In May 2019 there was a complaint against Google that it used its dominant position as the supplier of the Android operating system to stifle competition and give it undue advantage.
Around 96% of the smartphones in India are run on Android OS as of September, while 4.09% run on Apple’s iOS.
Google sign an agreement with the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of smartphones and tablets called Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA). Under this agreement the OEM has to pre-install entire Google Mobile Suite like its search engine, YouTube etc. and place it prominently on their device.
This gave Google an unfair advantage to Google as compared to its competitor.
The CCI found Google guilty of abusing its dominant position to illegally hurt competitors in India.
The Indian case is similar to one faced by Google in Europe, where regulators imposed a $5 billion fine on the company for forcing manufacturers to pre-install its apps on Android devices.
It was formed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998. In 2015, Google was reorganized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Alphabet Company.
It is an American multinational technology company that focuses on search engine technology, online advertising, cloud computing, computer software, quantum computing, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and consumer electronics.
Chief Executive Officer: Sundar Pichai
Global Headquarters: California, United States of America
Google India Headquarters: Hyderabad
