Preeti Kodwani Vs Sundar Pichai (Competition Commission of India)
An information was filed under Section 19(1)(a) of the Competition Act, 2002 alleging contravention of Sections 3 and 4 of the Act by multiple opposite parties operating within digital ecosystems, including technology platforms and related entities. The Informant stated that she conducts legitimate business activities and relies heavily on online platforms for marketing and client acquisition. It was alleged that dominant digital platforms and associated AI or ad-serving systems engaged in cumulative and persistent conduct that restricted her market access, diverted commercial opportunities to competitors, and caused severe commercial distress, including loss of funding and investment opportunities.
The allegations included manipulation or interference with digital identifiers, diversion of customer leads to competitors despite paid advertising, suppression of visibility through biased search results and ad placements, and denial of market access. Such conduct was alleged to amount to market allocation, denial of market access, imposition of unfair or discriminatory conditions, and concerted refusal to deal, resulting in appreciable adverse effect on competition in India’s digital services market. Interim relief was sought under Section 33 of the Act, including restraint on diversion of traffic, restoration of fair access to digital marketing systems, cease-and-desist directions, and investigation into abuse of dominance and collusive conduct.
