FAS INITIATED A CASE AGAINST GOOGLE LLC

The autority states that the company abuses its dominant position in the market of video hosting services

The investigation preceded by the application of the Regional Public Organization “Center for Internet Technologies” (ROCIT), which complained about Google suddenly blocking and deleting user accounts and content on its video hosting service YouTube.

FAS found that Google's rules on the formation, suspension, blocking of accounts and circulation of user content on YouTube are non-transparent, non-objective and unpredictable. This results in spontaneous blocking and deletion of user accounts without poviding any notifications and reasonable grounds. FAS believes that such behavior is contrary to the users' interest and may distort competition on the relevant markets.

FAS will assess Google's actions and their consequences for users and content creators.

For reference:

According to part 1 of Article 10 of the Law on Protection of Competition, actions (inactions) of dominant economic entity, which result or may result in prevention, restriction or elimination of competition and (or) infringement of the interests of other persons (economic entities) in the field of entrepreneurial activity or an uncertain range of consumers, are prohibited.