Indonesia’s antitrust agency on Tuesday ordered Google to pay a fine of about 202 billion rupiah ($12.4 million) for unfair business practices in the payment system services of its software distribution platform Google Play Store.
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Indonesia’s antitrust agency on Tuesday ordered Google to pay a fine of about 202 billion rupiah ($12.4 million) for unfair business practices in the payment system services of its software distribution platform Google Play Store.
The agency has launched an investigation alphabet inc. In 2022, Google was suspected of abusing its dominant position by requiring Indonesian app developers to use Google Play Billing at a higher rate than other payment systems, otherwise they would risk being removed from the Google Play Store.
The committee said during the hearing that these systems resulted in fewer users, thereby reducing developers’ revenue, adding that Google was found to have violated Indonesia’s antitrust laws.
The commission said it found that Google charged as much as 30% through Google Play Billing.
The agency said that in this country with a population of 280 million and a rapidly growing digital economy, Google controls 93% of the market share.
A Google spokesman said on Wednesday the company would appeal the ruling.
“Our current approach fosters a healthy and competitive Indonesian app ecosystem,” the spokesperson said, adding that we are committed to complying with Indonesian laws.
Google has previously said it has rolled out a system where developers can offer users alternative billing options.
Over the past decade, Google has been fined more than 8 billion euros ($8.3 billion) by the European Union for anti-competitive behavior related to its price comparison service, Android mobile operating system and advertising services.
