Google is once again making headlines—this time due to a new legal dispute in Asia. Japan’s Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has ordered the U.S. tech giant to end a series of allegedly anticompetitive agreements with smartphone manufacturers. The move adds to a turbulent period for Google, marked by massive layoffs and the development of ambitious technologies, including an AI project aimed at communicating with dolphins.
According to TechSpot, the JFTC found that Google required manufacturers to pre-install its Chrome browser and Google Play Store as a condition for accessing other essential Android services. This requirement allegedly hindered competition by limiting the presence of rival browsers and search engines on Android devices—a mobile operating system already controlled by Google.
The agreements also reportedly included financial incentives: Google offered ad revenue shares in exchange for setting Chrome as the default browser. Some contracts even restricted the installation of competing apps.
The investigation revealed that at least six manufacturers, accounting for 80% of the Android market in Japan, were involved in these arrangements. As a result, the JFTC concluded that Google’s actions violated Japan’s antitrust laws, labeling them as “transactions with restrictive conditions.”
In response, the commission ordered Google to immediately cease these practices and to refrain from imposing similar conditions in the future. The company will also be required to implement new compliance guidelines and submit to oversight by an independent entity for a period of five years.
While Google expressed disappointment with the decision, it stated it would cooperate with Japanese authorities and reiterated its commitment to fair competition. The company also emphasized the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance, highlighting ongoing technological collaboration between the two nations.
This ruling adds to a growing list of investigations the tech giant is facing across Asia, including a recent probe launched by Chinese regulators—signaling increased global scrutiny of Google’s business practices.
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