S.Korea considers $50.5 million fine against Google, Apple over app market practices
SEOUL听–听South Korea’s telecommunications regulator said on Friday that Alphabet Inc’s 骋辞辞驳濒别听and听础辫辫濒别聽have abused their dominant听补辫辫听尘补谤办别迟听position and warned of possible听蹿颈苍别s totaling up to $50.5 million.
The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) said in a statement that the two tech giants forced听补辫辫听developers into specific payment methods and caused unfair delay in听补辫辫听review.
The KCC is notifying the companies for corrective action, and will deliberate on the听蹿颈苍别s, the statement said.
鈥淪ince the start of the fact-finding investigation in August 2022, we have worked closely with KCC to explain how we are complying with the new law whilst ensuring that through our alternative billing, we continue to provide a safe and high-quality experience for all. What KCC has shared today is the 鈥榩re-notice鈥 and we will carefully review and submit our response. Once the final written decision is shared with us we will carefully review to evaluate the next course of action,鈥聽骋辞辞驳濒别听said in a statement to Reuters.
础辫辫濒别听did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
In 2021, South Korea passed an amendment to the Telecommunication Business Act banning听补辫辫听store operators from forcing software developers to use their payments systems.
The KCC said that聽骋辞辞驳濒别听and听础辫辫濒别‘s enforcement of certain payment methods, and听础辫辫濒别‘s “discriminatory charging of fees to domestic听补辫辫听developers” is likely to undermine the law’s purpose of promoting fair competition.
After hearing from the companies, the regulator could decide to impose听蹿颈苍别s of up to 68 billion won ($50.47 million), including 47.5 billion won for聽骋辞辞驳濒别听and 20.5 billion won for听础辫辫濒别, KCC said. – Reuters
