Google has been fined by Indonesia a hefty $12.4 million for unfair business practices. It comes after the country's competition regulator accused the tech giant of abusing its market dominance. Local businesses say that Google’s actions harmed their access to key services and that they unfairly benefited from Google’s position. Indonesia’s move to regulate tech companies is a major step of its kind.

Highlights:

• Indonesia fines Google $12.4 million for unfair practices.
• Google is accused of abusing its dominant market position.
• The fine targets Google’s impact on local businesses.
• Indonesian regulators stress the need for fair competition.
• Google has yet to respond officially to the fine.

The Indonesian competition regulator said that these actions negatively impact local businesses, specifically in online advertising and app distribution. Part of a wider push to quell monopolistic acts and ensure fairness in the digital market, the fine has gone under much scrutiny in recent days. Impending surveillance over major tech companies, which control local and global markets, is also apparent in the government’s actions.

The $12.4 million fine is deemed a warning for other tech giants, also, who may be taking similar paths. Indonesia is engaged in fighting hard to enable businesses to compete fairly in the marketplace. The move has been applauded by local businesses, many of whom often face unfair competition with the big boys like Google who are able to lock down key services and platforms.

This penalty comes as regulators around the world are getting more proactive about level playing field, and as Google gets slapped. This is sure to be a key to Google’s response: reconsidering how its business is conducted in Indonesia to avoid more legal hassles. It is a revealing step to ensure that global companies conform to national regulations protecting local industries.