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Google Offices Raided (Again) By KFTC Officials In Korea Over Antitrust Concerns

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Google has long been the target of antitrust investigations and it looks like their offices in South Korea are the subject of a raid… again. Google’s offices in Seoul were once again greeted by an impromptu raid from the Korea Fair Trade Commission, who happens to be investigating Google over concerns the big G is using Android, and its market dominance, are give the internet search giant an unfair advantage over third-party search engines within their mobile OS. The complaint comes from a 2 South Korean Internet companies — Daum Communications and NHN — and as you may recall, is the reason the same Google offices were raided last September.

As most Android users know, OEM’s and carriers can (and often do) implement which ever search engine they want in Android. Google also testifies to this saying last year, “We do not require carriers or manufacturers to include Google Search or Google applications on Android-powered devices.” The KFTC also believes believes Google hasn’t been playing nice during the investigation, allegedly deleting sensitive documents during the raid. Google on the other hand says they’ll “continue cooperating with this and other government inquiries.”

Google services aren’t mandatory. We’ve seen plenty of Android devices come devoid of Google applications and services. Apparently nobody sent the KFTC the memo. Google is facing the same issues in Europe where the European Union Competition Commissioner is giving Google until July 2nd to respond to with a settlement offer. Oh, Google…

[AllThingsD | Cnet | TheVerge | Engadget]

Chris Chavez
I've been obsessed with consumer technology for about as long as I can remember, be it video games, photography, or mobile devices. If you can plug it in, I have to own it. Preparing for the day when Android finally becomes self-aware and I get to welcome our new robot overlords.

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11 Comments

  1. I doubt they’re raiding any Apple offices over the same claims, even though they’re more likely to be true…

  2. Sounds like Google hasn’t greased enough palms in South Korea.

  3. apple is liie the protected child google is the one EVERYONE picked on

  4. OMG something something something APPLE!

    1. If you’re going to troll, at least be entertaining.

  5. I want a neon light like that one that’s right under her chin! And then I want a green one beside it that says “Android”.

  6. Why do they always raid Google instead of actually sending a letter or something is beyond me. I can’t get over that picture on the cover of the article haha

  7. These small companies are only whining, over Android platform. Let them do their own mobile OS. Why the company that makes FREE platform should think about it competitors.

  8. Eventually someone is going to get the bill for these raids and that’ll be the end of it. Why they tie up government resources over smaller companies whining is insane, there’s a proper place and method for dealing with that, not this over the top media byte.

  9. The little people are bored here. Nothing much else going on…

  10. Koreas can make it’s own OS. It does not need android

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