FTC Extends Probe Into Google’s Android

Apparently, Federal Trade Commission staffers have met with companies in recent months to examine industry concerns that Alphabet’s Google abuses the dominance of its Android smartphone software, extending a probe that began in 2015. The FTC is examining issues similar to European regulators, who recently charged Google with improperly using Android’s status as the world’s most popular smartphone operating system to force device makers and wireless carriers to favor Google’s search engine and other services. Indeed, the FTC is hoping to access some of the evidence behind European regulators’ case, apparently. Google and the FTC declined to comment.

The FTC began looking at Android in 2015 amid complaints from app developers and other tech firms that Google flexes its Android muscles unfairly. FTC staffers have recently met with and requested data from at least two companies, a signal the probe is progressing and the commission is gathering additional information. The investigation isn’t necessarily a sign the FTC believes Google has done anything improper. Commission investigators have reached no conclusions, and it is too early to say whether the probe could lead to legal action, apparently.