Google Under Threat Of Antitrust Laws In Japan

Even in Japan, antitrust regulators are investigating Google’s activities. Major US big tech companies have found themselves in the crosshairs of antitrust regulators who want to understand whether they illegally required smartphone makers to set the default browser.

“An investigation has been launched into an alleged violation of antitrust laws by Google, and the decision has been made to request information and comments from third parties regarding the alleged violation,” the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) said in a statement, which also clarifies that it “did not reach any conclusion as to whether antitrust laws were violated.”

Essentially, it’s an attempt to understand whether the California company is abusing its position as a market leader to block competing services. Specifically, by “entering into licensing agreements with Android mobile device manufacturers, under which Google installs its applications, such as Google Search application, Google Chrome web browser application, along with its Google Play app store, and specifying where to place the icons of these applications on the devices’ screens.” The JFTC also wants to understand whether Google enters into agreements, “under which it shares with them revenues generated from its search advertising service, with the terms that include an obligation not to pre-install a competitor’s search application.”

For these same reasons, Google is also under investigation by US antitrust authorities. The investigation was launched under the Trump administration and continued by the current Democratic government until the trial began in September.