EU officials have been keeping a close eye on Big Tech for quite some time. No Big Tech company can escape criticism and scrutiny from EU regulators, and EU officials are working hard to curb Big Tech’s anti-competitive practices.
Android Auto is a popular app that connects your Android phone to your car, and while it has been quite limited for years, it has now seen significant updates and changes. However, Google is facing regulatory pressure due to the years of restrictions.
According to reports, Google’s Android Auto app template restrictions could violate EU competition law and have raised concerns. The case, which began in an Italian court, reportedly resulted in the JuicePass app (an EV charging app) being blocked from Android Auto because it did not comply with Google’s app template.
Apparently JuicePass didn’t work with the existing Android Auto template when the app first tried to launch it. In 2021, Google was fined for rejecting JuicePass, mainly because Google seemed to favor its own navigation apps, Maps and Waze.
EU Court of Justice Advocate General Laila Medina said this week that the move could breach competition rules in place across the EU, but it is unclear whether the investigation will take into account the fact that Google has relaxed these restrictions over time.
Before the 2021 fine, Google opened the door to new types of Android Auto apps, including navigation apps. Technically, this would have allowed JuicePass to launch on the platform, but so far it is not available. Google also cited security concerns as a reason why the app cannot be launched on Android Auto.
Google has been working to add the necessary templates since the lawsuit began, and noted that many similar apps are already available globally on Android Auto. The Mountain View giant also said it will wait for the court’s final ruling.
Google seems to be moving in the right direction by loosening restrictions on Android Auto and allowing more apps on the platform. Past issues with JuicePass are concerning, but Google seems to be working to address the situation, and it’s important to acknowledge this progress.