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The Türkiye Competition Authority has launched an investigation into Google over certain practices in its application store, Play Store, related to payment services.
According to a statement by the authority, the probe seeks to determine whether Google has violated Law No. 4054 on the Protection of Competition, which governs anti-competitive behavior in Türkiye. The investigation was opened under Article 41, which allows the authority to initiate investigations against businesses suspected of anti-competitive practices, through Decision No. 25-29/680-M, dated Aug. 7, 2025.
The authority said the investigation focuses on allegations that Google required app developers distributing their products on Play Store to use Google Play Billing (GPB) exclusively, and prevented developers from informing users about alternative payment options. Such practices may constitute a violation of Article 6 of Law No. 4054, which prohibits agreements or behaviors by businesses that abuse a dominant market position or limit competition.
As part of a Mobile Ecosystem Sector Review, preliminary findings suggested that Google imposed restrictions on developers regarding payment services. It was determined that Google made the use of its in-app purchase system, Google Play Billing, mandatory and prohibited developers from communicating alternative payment methods to their users.
The Competition Authority said these practices could have exploitative or exclusionary effects under the law, and decided to open a formal investigation to examine the allegations in detail.
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