On January 21, Indonesia’s antitrust agency imposed a fine of 202 billion rupiah ($12.4 million) on Google for unfair business practices tied to its payment system on the Google Play Store.
The ruling follows a 2022 investigation into allegations that Google abused its dominant market position by requiring Indonesian app developers to use Google Play Billing at higher rates, threatening removal from the Play Store for noncompliance.
According to the agency, Google charged developers fees of up to 30%, significantly reducing developers’ earnings and impacting user acquisition. With a commanding 93% market share in Indonesia, a country with a rapidly expanding digital economy, the panel determined Google’s practices violated Indonesia’s anti-monopoly laws.
In response, Google announced plans to appeal, stating that its practices promote a competitive app ecosystem and comply with Indonesian regulations. The company also noted that developers are now allowed to offer alternative billing options.
