South Korea hits Google with $177 million fine for blocking Android alternatives

South Korea’s antitrust watchdog will fine Google nearly $177 million for using its dominant market position to prohibit other companies from building out alternatives to its Android operating system.

The order Tuesday from the Korea Fair Trade Commission is the latest in a series of regulatory efforts attempting to rein in the tech giant’s influence over consumer technology. It prohibits the company from requiring smartphone makers to sign “anti-fragmentation” agreements as part of contracts with Google over app store licenses. Android is the world’s most popular mobile operating system, and the agreements are ostensibly meant to reduce software incompatibilities that could cause devices to malfunction.