Huawei is proposing Chinese antitrust agencies to investigate Google’s use of Android to hinder competition
Reuters quoted sources as saying that Chinese antitrust regulators are currently evaluating Google Inc. to decide whether to initiate an antitrust investigation.
The content of the investigation is whether Google uses the market advantage of the Android system to hinder competition. It is reported that the current regulator has reported the matter to the State Council of China.
The anti-monopoly investigation against Google and Android was initiated by Huawei last year, and the regulator may decide whether to investigate or not this month.
As for whether to make an antitrust investigation decision may be affected by the relationship between China and the United States, the State Municipal Supervision Bureau and the State Council have not yet issued a response on this matter.
Reuters reported that the antitrust investigation against Google may have been caused by the Trump administration’s ban on Huawei. Trump blocked Huawei on the grounds of endangering national security.
The blocking measures include adding Huawei to the list of US-controlled entities, which makes it impossible for US companies and foreign companies that use US technology to trade with Huawei.
And earlier, there was news that the Trump administration would also take action against semiconductor manufacturer SMIC. The specific action may be similar to the US banning Huawei.
Recently, the Trump administration also forced ByteDance to divest the popular short video application TikTok, threatening to completely block the application if it does not divest.
At the same time, China is embarking on major changes to anti-monopoly laws, including raising the maximum fines and expanding the criteria for determining market control.
The US ban on Huawei has prevented Google from authorizing Google-related services to Huawei and prohibits Huawei’s new Android devices from using components such as Google Mobile Services.
Google previously had a temporary license that can continue to authorize Huawei, but this license expired two months ago, so Google cannot continue to authorize it now.
Huawei stated that it failed to achieve its goal of $12 billion in revenue in 2019. Huawei executives blamed the Trump administration’s blockade for causing damage to its business.
In order to overcome its dependence on Google, Huawei is currently rapidly developing Huawei mobile services, while Huawei is also developing the Hongmeng operating system to replace Android in the future.
Sources said that if Chinese regulators decide to initiate an antitrust investigation against Google, then the actions taken by European and Indian regulators may be a reference.
The source also said that China will also study investigations in other countries, including inquiries with Google executives and communication with relevant stakeholders to collect data.
