Google Under Antitrust Investigation in Japan Regarding Android App Policies

Google is encountering regulatory challenges once again — this time in Japan. The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has issued a cease-and-desist directive against the technology behemoth, claiming that the firm may have breached the nation’s antitrust regulations.

As per the directive, released on Tuesday, Google is alleged to have coerced Japanese smartphone manufacturers into preloading specific Google applications — namely Google Chrome and the Play Store — on Android devices. A lead investigator informed The Japan Times that this behavior obstructed the capacity of rival search engines to establish presence on Android smartphones.

This represents a notable milestone in Japan, marking the first instance where the country has pursued antitrust measures against a significant U.S. technology corporation. Although this action coincides with wider trade negotiations between Japan and the United States, the JFTC clarified in a press statement that its inquiry into Google’s operations commenced in October 2023.

The inquiry disclosed that Google not only mandated the preloading of its applications but also incentivized manufacturers with extra advertising revenue for their compliance. The Japan Times indicates that Google has entered such agreements with six smartphone producers, which collectively account for about 80% of the smartphones marketed in Japan.

The cease-and-desist order necessitates that Google discontinue these actions or potentially incur financial repercussions.

This is not the inaugural occasion Google has faced scrutiny over antitrust matters. The company has encountered comparable legal obstacles within both the United States and the European Union.