Kristina Roberts
Big companies often face tough questions when they grow so powerful that their choices affect millions of people. This time, it is Google, one of the world’s biggest tech companies, that has landed in trouble in Australia. The company has agreed to pay a fine of A$55 million (about $36 million) after being accused of unfair practices that stopped healthy competition.
The story began when the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the country’s consumer watchdog, looked closely at Google’s agreements with the two largest telecom companies in Australia — Telstra and Optus. According to the ACCC, Google made secret deals with these companies between late 2019 and early 2021. The deal was simple but very powerful: in exchange for sharing advertising money, Google’s search engine would be pre-installed on Android devices sold through these telecom companies. This meant that when Australians bought new Android phones from Telstra or Optus, they would automatically see Google’s search app ready to use.
At first, this might sound like a normal business deal. After all, companies pay to promote their products all the time. But the problem was much deeper. By ensuring that its own search engine was already built into these devices, Google made it extremely difficult for other search engines to compete. Rival companies did not get the same chance to reach users, and consumers were not given much of a choice. The ACCC said this arrangement had a “substantial impact on competition”, which is why it decided to act.
Google admitted that the deal created unfair advantages for itself and hurt rival search engines. The company also agreed to stop making such deals in the future. To settle the matter, both Google and the ACCC together told the Federal Court that Google would pay the A$55 million fine.
The chair of the ACCC, Gina-Cass Gottlieb, explained why this case was so important. She said, “Today’s outcome … created the potential for millions of Australians to have greater search choice in the future, and for competing search providers to gain meaningful exposure to Australian consumers.” In simple words, she meant that Australians would now have more freedom to choose which search engine they want to use, instead of being pushed towards Google by default.
This fine comes during a very rough time for Google in Australia. Just last week, a court mostly ruled against Google in a major case brought by Epic Games, the maker of the popular video game Fortnite. Epic Games had accused both Google and Apple of blocking rival app stores on their devices, making it harder for developers to reach users without paying big fees to the tech giants. That case showed how both Google and Apple control large parts of the app market, and the court’s decision proved that regulators are serious about breaking down unfair control.
Google’s troubles in Australia do not stop there. Only last month, YouTube, which is also owned by Google, was included in a ban that stops people under the age of 16 from joining social media platforms. At first, YouTube was not part of the ban, but the decision was later changed, adding more pressure on the company.
The fine against Google and its deals with Telstra and Optus are not just about one company making more money. They raise bigger questions about fairness, choice, and power in the digital world. When one company dominates, it often means smaller companies cannot survive, and people using the internet lose the chance to explore alternatives. Many Australians may not have thought twice about using Google as their main search engine, but the reality is that they never had a real choice in the first place.
This case also shows that governments and regulators around the world are becoming stricter about how tech giants operate. For years, companies like Google, Apple, and Meta (formerly Facebook) have grown so large that their actions shape the internet for billions of people. But now, countries are starting to push back, reminding these companies that rules of fair play apply to them too.
For Australians, the decision means that in the future, when they buy a new Android phone, they might not see Google Search as the only ready option. Instead, other search engines might also get space, giving users more control over what they want to use. It may feel like a small change, but in a digital world where search engines guide almost everything we do online — from finding shops to reading news — the choice really matters.
For Google, the fine may not hurt its finances much. A$55 million is not a huge amount for a company that makes billions every year. But the real cost is in its reputation. Being found guilty of anti-competitive behavior once again makes people question whether Google is acting fairly or simply using its power to stay on top. Every new fine or lawsuit adds to the pressure for Google to change the way it operates.
The case is also a reminder for ordinary people to think about how much control big companies have over their everyday choices. Many people open their phones and use whatever app is already installed, without realizing that deals and money are often behind those choices. Regulators want to make sure that people are free to decide for themselves instead of being quietly pushed in one direction.
As the world watches Australia’s decision, other countries may also feel encouraged to look more closely at Google’s business deals. If one nation can take a stand and force change, others may follow. That could create a ripple effect where more competition is allowed in technology markets, giving people across the globe better and fairer options.
In the end, this case is not only about one fine. It is about what kind of internet we want — one controlled by a few powerful companies, or one where competition and choice keep things fair. Google has promised to stop making such deals, but whether it truly changes its behavior will be seen in the years to come. For now, the fine in Australia stands as a strong reminder that even the biggest tech companies are not above the law.
