Google Meet- Gmail Integration: CCI Dismisses Plea Alleging Anti -Competitive Practices By Google

The Competition Commission of India has dismissed a complaint alleging abuse of dominant position by Google by integrating the Meet App into the Gmail App. Even though Meet tab has been incorporated in the Gmail app, Gmail does not coerce users to use Meet exclusively and the consumers are also at freewill to use either Meet or any other VC app for video conferencing, the Commission headed by the Chairperson Ashok Kumar Gupta observed. One Baglekar Akash Kumar had approached the Commission alleging that the integration of Google Meet (a video conferencing facility offered by Google) into the Gmail (an emailing facility offered by Google) by OPs contravenes the provisions of Section 4(2)(e) of the Competition Act. Due to the onset of COVID-19, most meetings and conferences are happening virtually and the Google has used its dominant position in e-mail services to enter another relevant market of videoconferencing, it was alleged in the complaint.