Tech majors fall in line after CCI cracks whip

Companies are being careful with aspects like self-referencing, search bias

- Pavan Burugula

India's technology majors are rectifying their anti-trust practices following the crackdown by Competition Commission of India (CCI). Market participants said these tech firms are exercising greater caution for arrangements that could be perceived as preferential treatment for specific entities, and addressing concerns related to self-referencing and search biases on their platforms.

Last year, CCI issued directives against half a dozen tech firms, including Google, Amazon and Make My Trip. Besides, it probed smartphone maker Apple and food delivery platforms Zomato and Swiggy, among others. Final verdicts on these matters are still pending.

A few companies were also expecting courts to reverse CCI's orders, said market participants. However, in most cases, the directives were not interfered with either by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) or the Supreme Court.

This prompted companies to rectify the anti-trust issues highlighted by the CCI.