The Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF)), a new New Delhi think tank comprising entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs, is likely to meet with MeitY officials next week to discuss possible policy interventions to address governance harassment by major technology companies like Google and Apple.
Sijo Kuruvilla George, executive director of ADIF, said they were looking forward to meeting with MeitY officials early next week to discuss a law similar to South Korea’s.
Earlier this month, South Korea released an amendment to the Communications Business Act which will require Google and Apple to enable more payment methods in their place. This means that tech majors will not be able to charge commissions on in-app, now standing at 30 percent, with a painful point in the development community. This was in addition to the $ 176 million fine imposed by the Korea Fair Trade Commission.
According to experts, such an example is what is needed to promote law and order in the country.
Amit Ranjan, CoFounder, SlideShare and Builder, DigiLocker Project said, “For the past three years there has been concern for the Indian community about business practices in big tech companies like Google.”
For example, Google and Apple do not allow other in-app payment options and charge a 30 per cent commission, which will start operating in India in March 2022. Many people were happy about this and to be honest, the commission was in trouble, ”he added.
That is why South Korean law, Ranjam said, is a major step forward and this example will play a key role in helping it become more equitable in other countries.
The abuse of domination in India
In 2018, Google was fined Rs 136 crore by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for combating administrative harassment in standard web search.
In June 2021, CCI orders found that Google was abusing its rule in the Android TV application. Last week the Times of India reported that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) found Google guilty of using anti-competitive tactics in the mobile operating system and related markets after a two-year investigation.
MeitY officials meeting
Kuruvilla explained that while major technology companies have been fined in many countries such as the US, Europe and Korea recently, there has been a difference because fines are always looking back. “Practical law is the way to go,” he said.
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The intervention is important as the 30% commission deadline for the implementation of the commission is approaching and will have a major impact on the Indian engineering system.
Ajay Data, General Secretary, ADIF and Managing Director, Data Group of Industries, said one of the key functions from the public to MeitY officials would allow for multiple payment methods. The data said the organization views the interim as a constant use of the Google playstore commission in India to give Indian developers a first chance.
