EU’s top court ruling on Android Auto antitrust referral could put interoperability requests in the fast lane

Europe’s top court has weighed in to clarify the rules around interoperability requirements on Big Tech in a referral on a case related to Google’s Android Auto platform. Back in 2021, the tech giant was hit with an €100 million antitrust fine by Italy’s competition authority for refusing to let a third-party electric car charging app made by energy company Enel X Italia integrate with its Android Auto platform, a version of its mobile OS for in-car use. Google had claimed restrictions on Enel’s app were necessary to ensure drivers were not distracted — despite the company having granted interoperability for its Android Auto platform to thousands of other apps. The Italian authority took the view that Google’s initial block on Enel from integrating with Android Auto constituted an abuse of a dominant position that harmed the other company’s competitiveness by crimping its ability to attract consumers. Tuesday’s ruling by the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) aligns with the watchdog ... Read full article.