Google Says Reviewing CCI Orders Over Alleged AdTech Market Dominance
In a separate order, the CCI dismissed a complaint filed by ADIF against Google, concluding that the allegations raised were already examined and settled in previous cases. The regulator said it is not convinced by the reasons stated by ADIF for distinguishing its allegations from the issues examined in previous orders passed by the regulator.
"We are reviewing the CCI's orders. We welcome the CCI's decision to dismiss one part of the complaint,' a Google spokesperson said in a statement.
'We remain confident that our ongoing work with the CCI will affirm that Google's advertising practices have consistently benefited advertisers, publishers, and users, and are fully compliant with competition law,' the company added. ADIF alleged in its complaint that Google has engaged in anti-competitive practices across various layers of its advertising technology stack.
ADIF further alleged that Google, through its multiple group entities, has engaged in anti-competitive conduct by self-preferencing its own services in the AdTech ecosystem, including tying and bundling of its publisher ad server (DFP) with its ad exchange (AdX), and linking access to YouTube ad inventory with the use of its demand-side platform (DV360).
The CCI said it was prima facie satisfied that Google's conduct warranted scrutiny under Section 4 of the Competition Act, which deals with abuse of dominant position.
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