Japan's competition watchdog plans to order U.S. IT giant Google to halt violations of the country's antitrust law, sources familiar with the matter said Sunday.
The watchdog suspects that Google has unfairly pressured smartphone manufacturers to pre-install its search app, the sources added.
The Japan Fair Trade Commission determined that Google, which holds a dominant share of the online search market, has unfairly hindered competition, according to the sources.
The watchdog has already notified the company of possible disciplinary measures and will decide on them after hearing its response, they said.
Google allegedly requires smartphone manufacturers using its Android operating system to pre-install Google apps, including the Chrome browser, as a condition for offering the Google Play Store, the sources said.
The tech giant is also suspected of mandating specific placement of app icons on device screens in exchange for access to its app store, they added.
Moreover, it is accused of striking deals with manufacturers to share part of its revenue on the condition that they refrain from pre-installing rival companies' apps on their devices, the sources said.
© KYODO
17 Comments
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Alongfortheride
Japan needs to be careful. First taking on FB now Google. These companies can simply turn around and say no more Google or FB in Japan.
Fighto!
These two big Tech corporations exist purely to make money for their Billionaire owners. There is zero chance they are leaving a wealthy market of 120 million people.
リッチ
Monkey see monkey do. America is upset with Google so Japan needs to find a way to also appear upset. If Google apps store is wanted on a phone then they have all the right to set terms and conditions for it. Just like Apple does. If you don’t like it buy a japense phone form one of the other makers.
Alongfortheride
8.2 Billion people in the world. Japan is a spit in a bucket compared to that. No different from giant companies who get told by some small supplier to change something. The giants simply stops doing business with them.
They would not care 1 bit if Japan stopped them from being here.
HopeSpringsEternal
Pile on continues, Govt. across the world getting very tired of their search monopoly price gouging businesses, just as Gen AI is disrupting the search market and yet Alphabet/Google stock holding up pretty well.
WoodyLee
I just love how Japan almost instantly take the same action as soon as the U.S. does, like when japan rushed and CUT OFF donations to UNRWA and starved thousands of Palestinians in Gaza based on LIES and allegations by Israel.
koiwaicoffee
Everything in Japan is controlled and set by J-corporate cartels so there's no competition and prices stay where they want to. What they don't want is foreign companies to play the same game.
Antiquesaving
Hilarious.
So the Japanese government is saying Google is dominating by its practices.
Ok, have to use online Japanese government services.
Anyone what to guess the only 2 browsers that are able to be used?
Chrome and Edge.
You need to install the extensions especially if you are required to use the my number card.
These extensions are only available for Chrome and Edge.
So I never use Chrome but had to use it.
So even if you use Apple you have the choice between chrome or Edge (which isn't really stable in Mac OS with regards to these extensions).
This will repeat with many countries also only offering service with 2 or 3 browsers generally Chrome, Edge, and Safari, occasionally Firefox and Opera.
So the Japanese government is basically only Chrome, Edge.
The USA IRS is Chrome, Edge, Safari
Australia has 4 Chrome and Firefox are the most stable but some versions of Safari and Edge in theory should work but most that have tried say they had too many problems so used Chrome.
Desert Tortoise
Google could vanish this instant and it would make no difference in my life. I don't use Google for anything. Literally anything. My home computer is Linux. My search engines are Safari and Brave with Duck Duck Go. My software is all open source, stuff like Firejail and Libre Office.
Desert Tortoise
I don't have Chrome or Edge on the computer I am using now.
Brave and Duck Duck Go work on US Government websites. So does Firefox. I have Firefox on my government laptop and for some government sites that works better than Chrome or Edge (Sludge).
GillislowTier
Japan still trying to force yahoo down everyone’s throats. Get over it Japan, Google won for a reason
deanzaZZR
It's Safari and FF for me with Duck Duck Go as the search engine. I do have Chrome instead for that rare website that demands it.
I do use YouTube which is the only interaction I have with Google these days.
Antiquesaving
Ok now try doing e-tax filing in Japan without Chrome or Edge browsers.
To use e-tax, to renew visa or your PR zairiu card online, you need to install JPKI利用者 in order to use your IC "My number card".
This is only available for Chrome and Edge.
deanzaZZR
@Antiquesaving I will move to Japan in the next few years. Hopefully the Japanese coders will fix this obvious problem. I am not holding my breath.
Antiquesaving
I am questioning your knowledge of computers.
Duck duck go is a search engine not a browser so why do you keep mentioning them?
IRS website
https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/minimum-computer-requirements-for-free-file-fillable-forms
As for Japan: I recommend you look it up.
The my number card will only work if you have JPKI利用者 extension and that is only available on Chrome and Edge.
It seems many here including you think this is only search engine!
No it is the chrome browser!
Read the articles all of them again. It is the pre installed Chrome Browser.
And I repeat, no Browser other than Chrome and Edge can be used to file e-tax because you need the IC my number card, a card reader and JPKI利用者 extension not available on any other browsers.
Antiquesaving
YouTube dropped Chrome memory hog.
Try Vivaldi.
Antiquesaving
Not hopeful! The way it is set up now you had better really know your Japanese and have a bottle of acetaminophen at the ready.
You need Chrome or Edge, the JPKI利用者 extension, a compatible IC card reader, Java Runtime Environment 8.0, and If you have a non-Japanese Windows PC, you will need Locale Emulator to display the text correctly, and oddly enough a .JP email address e-tax and immigration seem to not accept or something goes wrong if you use .com etc..
I created a yahoo.co.jp just for this use had no choice.