Google is no stranger to inquiries, surveys and even prosecutions for its businesses and its products, particularly with regard to anti-competitive behavior. From research to shopping to new Chrome, Google has faced many legal challenges, especially within the European Union. Even when faced with the latest series of challenges on Google Play Store, the European Commission should prepare to slap it another, this time on how it can force Google Assistant to be the voice assistant by Default on smart devices, especially those that work. Android.
Many of the things that the EU can be investigating things that consumers take for granted, which is exactly the point. Most Android users will probably expect Google Search and Chrome to be preinstalled, while others might even be bored if Google Assistant is not readily available. These expectations may have been formed by the way Google-army with strong weapons in the manufacture of these applications and services, blinding, blinding consumers with other options available.
According to Reuters, the European Commission is studying this issue by asking manufacturers of proofing devices for anti-competitive practices. In particular, it is interested if Google uses strategies such as its Android certification process to force OEMs to preinstall Google Assistant and make the default. He also wants to know if Google also requires exclusivity by prohibiting smart device manufacturers installing other AI assistants, including theirs.
There are strong arguments on both sides of the legal fence, especially taking into account how Google Play has long been considered Google’s trading chip in questions like this. That said, there may also be evidence on the contrary, such as the notorious and inevitable presence of Bixby on Samsung phones or other third-party vocal assistants of Xiaomi’s tastes, OPPO and others. Although these competitors are unwavering less feature than Google Assistant, their existence and their default settings could contain the EU investigation in favor of Google.
There is also the reality that the vocal assistant market has become a three-horses race between Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri and Google attending at this point. Unfortunately, these voice assistants have also become the last arena of companies and regulators, especially considering that they can easily become a treasure of personal data. If convicted, Google could face fines of up to 10% of its global turnover.