Google Says Antitrust Penalty A Strike Blow At Digital Adoption In India

Google on Friday hit out at the competition regulator for slapping penalties for alleged abuse of its dominant position, saying the orders strike a blow at the effort to accelerate digital adoption in India and will lead to higher prices. Failing to secure an interim relief on more than Rs 2,200 crore fine imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), the US tech giant penned a blog 'The Heart of the Matter' to put across its point on how the orders would harm the digital ecosystem in the country. India, it said, is at a juncture where barriers to access must be brought down, and safe and secure smartphones made available to all. "At a time when only half of India's population is connected, the directions in the CCI's order strikes a blow at the ecosystem-wide efforts to accelerate digital adoption in the country," it said, adding the firm is appealing against the orders. CCI, in October last year, slapped a Rs 1,337.76 crore fine on Google for exploiting…