Decoded: Why Google Pay is under Competition Commission's scanner

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Monday decided to initiate investigation into whether search engine behemoth Google “unfairly privileged” Google Pay, its UPI-based payments app. This is based on an anonymous complaint, first filed in February this year. Legal experts explain the implications of the move:

What is the basis for the investigation?

The regulator has received complaints against Google on six counts for breaking antitrust rules. However, after initial inquiry, it has decided to pursue investigation on two issues. These relate to “exclusivity regarding the mode of payment for the purchase of apps and in-app purchases” and “pre-installation