CCI Orders Probe Into WhatsApp's New Privacy Policy; Finds Prima Facie 'Abuse Of Dominance'

In a significant development, the Competition Commission of India on Wednesday ordered a probe into the new privacy policy of WhatsApp, after making a prima facie observation that it was violative of the Competition Act 2000."..the Commission is of the considered opinion that WhatsApp has prima facie contravened the provisions of Section 4 of the Act through its exploitative and exclusionary conduct, in the garb of policy update", said the order passed by the CCI.The CCI observed that...

Supreme Court Requires States/UTs To Furnish Details Of Financial Stability Of Parents/Guardians Of Children 'Restored' In Pandemic

In the wake of the risks of trafficking etc, the Supreme Court on Monday required the state governments/Union Territories to provide information in 2 weeks about the financial stability of the families of those children who were restored to their parents/guardians from the Child Care Institutions on account of the COVID situation.The bench headed by Justice L. Nageswara Rao noted that in view of the improving situation relating to the pandemic, some states have reopened schools. On account of...

CCI, SEBI Approval to Reliance-FRL Deal Disregards Law: Amazon Tells Delhi High Court

Seeking an interim injunction against the Reliance - Future Retail Ltd stake sale deal worth Rs. 24,000 crore, Amazon today submitted before the Delhi High Court, that FRL had urged authorities like SEBI and CCI to disregard the award, and by giving their approvals to the deal, they had disregarded the law indeed.The court directed both parties to file a 5 page note with relevant portions of judgement and other details by 5.30 pm today and posted the case for further hearing tomorrow.Amazon...

Will The CCI's Market Study On Private Equity Investments Provide Clarity For Minority Investments?

In light of the growing trend of private equity ("PE") firms acquiring minority stakes in multiple firms in the same sector, the Chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (the "CCI") has recently announced that the CCI proposes to conduct a market study to analyse the incentives and rights associated with such minority investments, and its impact on competition in India. This concern was first highlighted by the CCI in Meru v. Ola/Uber[2] in June 2018, where the CCI examined ...

Children To Be Restored From Children Homes To Parents/Guardians Only After Individual Assessment As Per Juvenile Justice Act : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that restoration of children from children homes to parents/guardians only after individual assessment under Section 40(3) of the Juvenile Justice Act 2015.As per Section 40(3), suitability and fitness of the parents/guardians have to be ascertained by the Child Welfare Committee before restoring children to them. A Bench headed by Justice L. Nageswara Rao recorded Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta's submission that the directions issued by the National ...

Delhi HC Reserves Order On Maintainability Of Future Group's Plea Seeking Injunction On Amazon's Interference In Deal With Reliance Retail

The Delhi High Court has reserved order on the maintainability of a plea by Kishore Biyani-led Future Retail Ltd (FRL) seeking an ad-interim injunction against Amazon Inc for sending letters to various regulatory authorities writing about an injunction award by an Emergency Arbitrator against Future Retail Ltd's acquisition by Reliance Industries Ltd's entities for about Rs. 24, 713 crores. The Single Bench of Justice Mukta Gupta also directed both the parties to submit their written...

Delhi HC Issues Notice, Seeks Amazon's Reply On Future Groups's Plea Seeking Injunction On Amazon's 'Interference' In Deal With Reliance Retail

The Delhi High Court today issued notice on a plea by Kishore Biyani-led Future Retail Ltd (FRL) seeking an ad-interim injunction against Amazon Inc for sending letters to various regulatory authorities writing about an injunction award by an Emergency Arbitrator against Future Retail Ltd's acquisition by Reliance Industries Ltd's entities for about Rs. 24, 713 crores. The single judge bench of Justice Mukta Gupta, after hearing Future Retail, Reliance and Amazon Inc issued summons to...

Integration Of 'Google Meet' With Gmail Abuse Of Dominant Position : Law Student's Plea Before CCI

The Competition Commission of India has issued on a complaint filed by a law student alleging that Google has abused its dominant position by integrating it Video Conferencing app 'Google Meet' with Google Mail(Gmail).The CCI has asked Google LLC and Google India Digital Services Ltd to respond within four weeks to the complaint filed by Baglekar Akash Kumar, 5th-year law student of Osmania University College of Law, Hyderabad.According to Kumar, the act of the integration of Google Meet into...

Abuse Of Dominant Position In The Smart TV Market: Antitrust Case Against Google

According to a report from Reuters, a new antitrust case against Google has been filled in Competition Commission of India. In this case it is alleged that google has abused its dominant position in the smart TV market by blocking the companies who want to create or modify android system. However, the case is in its preliminary stage and allegations are yet to be reviewed by the members and chairperson of CCI also no orders of any investigations are given. This is not the first...

SC Asks Adani Gas To Deposit Rs 3.20 Crore For Stay Of Recovery Of Penalty Imposed By CCI For Abuse Of Dominant Position[Read Order]

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted a conditional stay of the recovery of the penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against Adani Gas Limited for abuse of dominance position.While granting the stay of recovery, a bench comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and K M Joseph directed Adani Gas Ltd to deposit a sum of Rs 3.20 crores within four weeks out of the total quantum of penalty of Rupees 6.40 crores.The matter was directed to be listed in March 2021 for...

Whatsapp Pay - CCI Dismisses Plea Alleging Abuse Of Dominant Position By Whatsapp & Facebook [Read Order]

The Competition Commission of India has dismissed a plea which sought investigation against Whatsapp and Facebook for alleged abuse of dominant position by rolling out Whatsapp Pay feature.Harshita Chawla, a lawyer, had approached the Commission alleging that Facebook backed WhatsApp, is violating the provisions of Section 4 of the Competition Act, by using its dominance in the internet based instant messaging App, is bundling its messaging App with the payment option (WhatsApp Pay) thereby...

Non-Personal Data Governance Framework And Competition Act

The recent report by the Committee on Non-Personal Data Governance Framework is unique in its treatment of data. Even though this framework is merely in Report form at present it is expected to become the basis of a new national legislation for regulating non-personal data. Recognising the many complications and conflicts that any attempt to regulate non-personal data would give rise to, the Committee had also called for comments from the public and stakeholders on the Report. The...