Japan orders Google to halt alleged antitrust violation

Japanese regulators on Tuesday issued a cease-and-desist order to U.S. tech giant Google, accusing the company of violating the country’s antitrust laws.

According to the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC), Google’s practices related to search functionalities on Android smartphones were found to potentially hinder fair competition.
“We have concluded that Google LLC's conduct threatens to impede fair competition... related to the implementation of search functions for Android smartphones, in violation of the antitrust law,” a JFTC official told reporters.

Further details on the specific conduct under scrutiny have not yet been disclosed, but the move signals increased scrutiny of Big Tech's influence in global markets.

SR