South Korea’s antitrust regulator, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), is expected to take punitive steps against Google over allegations of unfairly bundling YouTube’s music service with its premium subscription program. According to officials, Google has been providing the YouTube Music streaming service to users of its ad-free YouTube Premium program without additional charges, potentially violating fair transaction laws.
The FTC has been investigating this practice since February of last year, focusing on whether Google has abused its market dominance and restricted fair competition. The regulator recently presented a review report recommending punitive measures against Google, and a final decision is expected in the coming weeks.
Critics argue that this bundling practice has increased YouTube subscribers while limiting consumer choices and negatively impacting other music streaming services. An FTC official noted that the investigation and related procedures are expected to conclude in July, leading to a final decision soon after.