Google issued Cease and Desist Order in Japan for anticompetitive practices

From Nasdaq: 2025-04-15 09:43:00

Google LLC, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has been issued a Cease and Desist Order by Japan’s competition Commission for anticompetitive practices. The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) accused Google of violating anti-monopoly laws by forcing manufacturers to preinstall its apps on Android smartphones, restricting competition from other search engine apps.

The JFTC stated that Google has prevented the Search Functionality of other General Search Service providers from being implemented on specified Android Smartphones since at least July 2020. This move limited competition and violated the anti-monopoly law, according to the Commission.

Google allegedly compelled Android smartphone makers to preinstall Google Play and Google Chrome apps on their phones, placing them in an easily accessible location on the home screen. The JFTC’s investigation, which began on October 23, 2023, found that these practices hindered fair competition in the market.

Saiko Nakajima, a senior investigator at the JFTC, highlighted that Google’s actions bound smartphone manufacturers and telecommunication carriers, making it difficult for competing search engine applications to be used on Android phones. The cease-and-desist order requires Google to cease violating anti-monopoly laws, stop asking manufacturers to preinstall its apps, and develop compliance guidelines.



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