Australian authorities launch an antitrust investigation against Google, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reported.

According to the ACCC statement, manufacturers ship personal computers, tablets, and mobile phones with a pre-installed operating system and a web browser that makes the built-in search service the default. The Google Chrome and Apple Safari browsers, which are preinstalled on almost all devices, make Google Search the default service for 95% of devices. This can lead to less competition and deprive consumers of choice when providing these services, they noted.

The commission notes that Google has significant market power in Australia's digital market, as it owns a leading search engine.

This position of the digital platform largely insulates it from a dynamic competition, which is complemented by consumer inertia.

A final report on the impact of defaults and preinstallations of software, including search services and web browsers, on consumer choice and competition is reported to be finalized and presented to the Chief Treasurer of Australia on September 30, 2021.