This is a setback for Google. The digital giant was fined 2.015 million euros, pronounced this Tuesday, July 4 by the repression of French fraud. This pointed to the lack of “clear, fair and transparent” information on its search engine, especially with regard to tourist accommodation offers, and on the Google Play Store application store.
More specifically, the General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) condemned Google for non-compliance with the rules on consumer information”, in particular on the “ranking criteria” of the search engine and Google Play Store. It came to this conclusion after checks carried out in 2021.
“Lack of information”
With regard to the search engine, the investigation service of the DGCCRF noted a “lack of information”. “The lack of communication of information relating to the pricing conditions of the offers” of tourist accommodation, such as the possibility of being reimbursed in the event of cancellation, or the inclusion of breakfast in the price, was also sanctioned .
On the Google Play Store, the DGCCRF concluded that “an absence of information relating to the criteria for ranking results, the quality of the provider (professional or individual), payment methods and those for settling disputes “, she specifies. Added to this is “the fact of not informing the author of an opinion of the reasons which led to the refusal of its publication”.
Google’s response was not long in coming. The digital giant claimed to have corrected some of the breaches sanctioned, which was confirmed by the repression of fraud. “We regret that these changes have not been taken into account by the DGCCRF,” reacted a Google spokesperson to AFP. “We have always been transparent with our users about how our products work,” he insisted.