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Google is facing more anti-trust complaints regarding Android. The European Commission is already investigating Google over its mobile operating system due to concerns that it promotes its own apps over its competitors and now, complaints have arisen suggesting that Google is abusing its dominance in the market.
This particular complaint was made by a start-up company, Disconnect, founded by former Google employees in order to develop software to block out advertisements along with third-party data trackers. Disconnect's app was recently ejected from the Google Play Store some time in 2014, at the time Google claimed that it was interfering with other apps.
In a statement sent to Tech Crunch, Disconnect said:”Disconnect charges Google with abusing its dominant market position by banning Disconnect's app, a revolutionary technology that protects users from invisible tracking and malvertising, malware served through advertisements”.
Google doesn't often comment on anti-trust matters but it did comment on this particular complaints, saying: “This reported claim is baseless. Our Google Play policies (specifically clause 4.4) have long prohibited apps that interfere with other apps (such as by altering their functionality, or removing their way of making money). We apply this policy uniformly, and Android developers strongly support it. All apps must comply with these policies and there are over 200 privacy apps available in Google Play that do.”
Disconnect's app has been thrown out of the Play Store twice and as you can probably tell, the company isn't too happy about it and is now hitting back at Google by adding to its anti-trust woes in the EU.
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KitGuru Says: Google has been under investigation in the EU over anti-trust concerns for some time now, although this complaint will add to the company's troubles. Via: The Inquirer
How does this work again? Can someone please explain like I’m five?
I mean like Microsoft case from while back, well you already paid for the OS and they monopolized stuff, that is greed.
But android is google’s platform for ‘free’ and they earn their money from stuff like this.
If you want to sell apps like that, just don’t put it on playstore. Heck, even adblock can only be downloaded from their own website. These guys are selling something like VPN and complained about stuff. What a world we’re living in.
Google’s claim on the matter is quite valid; some app developers’ only income comes from advertisings, and preventing app developers from getting money from their own apps makes very little sense. (otherwise, google wins popularity by having access to a certain app, but the developer sees nothing from those gains, and may lose interest in developing ever again if their work is not paid for).
This to me seems like a simple tantrum pulled by a developer who doesn’t understand the idea of letting other developers get paid for their hard work. I don’t like the idea of advertisings myself, but then again, that’s the reason I have my phone rooted.
Disconnects app removes much of the tracking stuff, which is pretty valid. But it’s method of ad blocking is ridiculous, and could easily be fixed with a hosts file, instead of running services.
However, Google are right. A lot of apps get their revenue form ads, and they have a uniform policy of removing ad blocking apps from their store, which they did.
The EU’s anti-trust case is ridiculous as well. Why wouldn’t Google promote their own products? Why should they specifically promote a competitors? So long as competitors have fair access to develop and promote a competing app, without being intentionally hindered, then it’s fair game – Google publish extensive SDK’s.
Thank you. Well that’s just like what I had in mind. The case is like a child pulling tantrum because he can’t get hold the candies other kids have.
Root is one option but not for most, some mobile banking apps don’t accept rooted phone. But still, I won’t even do banking under vpn either.
Blocking intrusive advertisements and tracking while net browsing on an android phone is a must. Some web pages simply opens up playstore and points a crappy app ready to download in the middle of net browsing is extremely crazy and offending. But blocking free android apps advertisements may be wrong and it’s somehow right that it’s removing their way of making money. But I can’t tolerate net browsing ads in anyway.
Apple uses non-standard cables, overcharges like crazy, makes a closed eco-system, bans apps all the time for whatever reason the want: no problem.
Windows traps people into paying for their stuff because they have a monopoly, heavily promotes their own software, comes filled with shïtty bloatware, enforces dodgy DRM: no problem.
Google makes a free, open OS, comes with basic apps you can uninstall whenever you want, bans an ad-blocking app as they did for many others before: SUE, SUE, SUE.
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The case is like a child pulling tantrum because he can’t get hold the candies other kids have.
Worst analogy ever.
lol. EU was all over M$ a few years ago. Remember the whole browser selection fiasco?
I guess there’s that, though it’s the exact same bullshït here. Not gonna cry for Google but the EU’s really desperate to look tough with tech companies.