Google Fined $35.8M in Australia for Anti-Competition Deals with Telcos
Google has agreed to pay a $35.8 million (A$55 million) fine in Australia after admitting it struck deals with Telstra and Optus to keep rival search engines off Android phones between 2019 and 2021. The arrangement, which shared ad revenue with the telcos in exchange for pre-installing Google Search, was found to hurt competition. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said the outcome opens the door to “greater search choice” for millions of Australians.
The fine comes during a rocky stretch for Google in Australia. Just last week, a court mostly sided against the company in a lawsuit from Fortnite maker Epic Games over app store competition. And in July, YouTube, who is also owned by Google, was added to a national ban on platforms allowing users under 16 to use them. Google said it had already stopped signing similar telco deals and was happy to have resolved the issue, adding it’s now giving Android device makers “more flexibility” when it comes to pre-installed apps.
While the fine still needs court approval, both Google and the ACCC agreed on the amount to avoid drawn-out legal battles. Telstra and Optus said they’ve cooperated fully and haven’t signed similar agreements with Google since 2024.
