South Korean regulators announced on Tuesday that Alphabet Inc-CL C, a subsidiary of Alphabet,The company was fined 207.4 billion won ($177 million) for allegedly abusing the dominant position of its Android operating system to hinder the development of competitors.
South Korea's Fair Trade Commission said Alphabet Inc-CL C's mobile operating system drives more than 80 per cent of the world's smartphones and accused Alphabet Inc-CL C of using his strong bargaining power to crowd out competitors. Alphabet Inc-CL C and Samsung ElectronicsThe Anti-fragmentation Agreement (AFA) reached by handset makers such as LG Electronics forbids handset makers from developing or using a modified Android operating system.
The regulator banned Alphabet Inc-CL C from forcing handset makers to sign AFA contracts and ordered them to amend existing contracts.
Tuesday is also the day that South Korea's recently passed Anti-Google Law came into effect, which forced Apple IncAnd Alphabet Inc-CL C opened their app store to external payment systems, effectively banning them from taking commissions from app developers, setting a global precedent.