Brussels, Belgium — Today, the European Commission issued a non-compliance decision against Google, finding that the company violated Article 5(4) of the Digital Markets Act by preventing app developers from freely communicating and promoting offers to users and directing them to alternative purchase channels outside Google Play.
Gene Burrus, Global Policy Counsel for the Coalition for App Fairness (CAF), issued the following statement:
“Today’s decision confirmed that Google cannot block developers from communicating with their customers and steering them outside apps to make purchases, nor tax developers for offering better deals, in violation of the Digital Markets Act. Apple was also found in breach more than a year ago, yet the Commission has failed to enforce its own decision. It’s time now to fully enforce the law and hold the mobile app gatekeepers to account to create an open and fair mobile app ecosystem.”