The European Commission is preparing to fine Google for paying smartphone makers to exclusively use its search engine on their mobile devices, according to Reuters.

The European Union’s antitrust authority filed a so-called statement of objections against Google in April, accusing it of forcing smartphone makers to exclusively use its search engine if they want access to the Play Store, through which phone users can download and purchase other apps.

Now the Commission has sent a redacted copy of that statement of objections to complainants, Reuters reported after seeing the document.

The Commission plans to order Google to stop offering payments or discounted license fees to smartphone makers for putting its search engine and app store on their phones systems based on Android.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here