TOKYO, Japan – In a groundbreaking move, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, issued a cease-and-desist order against Google for violating the country’s anti-monopoly laws.
The company was accused of forcing Android smartphone manufacturers to preinstall Google’s apps, such as Google Play and Google Chrome, in ways that hindered competition from other search engine providers.
This marks the first time that Japan has taken such action against any of the major U.S. technology giants — commonly known as GAFAM (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft) — under its anti-monopoly regulations.
The JFTC’s decision underscores Japan’s commitment to enforcing fair competition laws in the technology sector.
According to Saiko Nakajima, a senior investigator for digital platform operators at the JFTC, Google’s actions have made it exceedingly difficult for competing search engine apps to be used on Android devices.
Nakajima explained that Google’s contracts with smartphone manufacturers and telecommunications carriers effectively bound them to preinstall the company’s apps, such as Google Chrome, and ensure their prominent placement on the home screen of Android phones.
This practice was deemed a violation of Japan’s Antimonopoly Act, as it obstructed free competition in the mobile app market.
The commission further revealed that Google had been paying manufacturers a portion of its advertising revenue as an incentive for complying with its terms, which included setting Chrome as the default browser and preventing the preinstallation of rival search engine apps.
The commission confirmed that by December 2024, these agreements had been in place with at least six manufacturers, responsible for producing about 80% of all Android smartphones in Japan.
The cease-and-desist order mandates that Google immediately halt its practices that infringe upon the anti-monopoly law and refrain from requiring manufacturers to preinstall its apps.
Additionally, the company has been instructed to prepare and submit action guidelines to ensure compliance with Japanese competition laws.
Failure to adhere to the order could result in a fine.
In response to the JFTC’s decision, Google Japan issued a statement expressing “deep regret” over the ruling.
The company emphasized its commitment to fair competition and user choice, asserting that its partnerships with manufacturers and carriers were voluntary and that they chose to preinstall Google’s apps because they viewed them as the best options.
“Google has a long-standing commitment to fair competition and respect for user choice,” the company said, adding that it would carefully review the cease-and-desist order and work with the JFTC to ensure that Android remains a competitive platform for Japanese consumers and manufacturers.
