Japan’s competition watchdog is turning up the heat on Big Tech. On Tuesday, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) issued a cease-and-desist order to Google, accusing the tech giant of unfair business practices related to search services on Android devices. This decisive move echoes antitrust actions already underway in the U.K. and the U.S.
According to the JFTC, Google violated Japan’s anti-monopoly laws by leveraging licensing agreements to force Android device manufacturers—like Samsung and Lenovo—to prioritize and prominently display Google Search and Chrome, while excluding rival search engines. These terms were allegedly tied to Google’s advertising revenue-sharing model, giving manufacturers financial incentive to comply.
While Google does develop Android’s operating system, the actual hardware is built by third-party companies. These firms rely on Google’s licensing to legally preinstall apps like Google Play Store, but the JFTC found that at least six contracts as of December 2024 included restrictive clauses limiting fair competition.
Although Google previously submitted a commitment plan in April 2024 to address some concerns, the JFTC’s latest order signals a more aggressive stance—marking Japan’s first cease-and-desist action against a U.S. tech giant under its anti-monopoly framework.
