Google's voice assistant in new EU antitrust investigation, MLex reports

FILE PHOTO: A view of a sign above the entrance of the Google office, ahead of presentation of the detailed investment plan for Germany, in Berlin, Germany, August 31, 2021. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

BRUSSELS/BANGALURU (Reuters) -Alphabet Inc's Google is being investigated by EU antitrust regulators over whether it may be forcing device makers to use Google Assistant as the default voice assistant on Android devices, news agency MLex reported on Thursday.

The European Commission in June said its sector inquiry into internet-connected devices drew concerns from respondents over certain exclusivity and tying practices related to voice assistants such as producers of smart devices being prevented from installing a second voice assistant on a device.