Google prepares to ‘fight’ Japan’s search app changes on Android smartphones

Alphabet’s Google is gearing up to fight antitrust allegations in Japan, where the country’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has accused the company of engaging in anti-competitive practices by prioritising Google Search in default screen placement.
The FTC has issued a cease-and-desist order to Google’s Japan office, alleging that the company has been unfairly prioritising its own search engine on smartphones, hindering competition from rivals like Yahoo Japan.

What Google has to say

Google, which has faced similar antitrust scrutiny in other parts of the world, expressed disappointment with the FTC’s decision and plans to contest the allegations.
“We have continued to work closely with the Japanese government to demonstrate how we are supporting the Android ecosystem and expanding user choice in Japan,” Google said in a statement, as per a report by Bloomberg.
“We will present our arguments in the hearing process,” it said, adding it was “disappointed” and the FTC didn’t give enough consideration of the company’s proposed solution.
Notably, the Japanese watchdog has notified Google of its planned action and will finalise its decision after hearing the company’s response.

Antitrust charges against Google

This latest antitrust challenge comes after the Japan’s FTC issued an administrative order against Google earlier this year for allegedly limiting Yahoo Japan’s ability to compete in the targeted search advertising market.
Chrome plays a crucial role in Google’s business model by providing valuable user data that enhances the company’s advertising targeting capabilities. Google Chrome is the world’s most widely used web browser.
Google’s dominance in the search and mobile operating system markets has attracted regulatory scrutiny globally. The company faces accusations of leveraging its market power to stifle competition and prioritise its own products and services.
Last month, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) argued in court that Google should be forced to divest its Chrome browser business and face a five-year ban from re-entering the browser market to end its search monopoly.