Japan hits Google with antitrust cease-and-desist over Android practices

Google faces Japan's first-ever antitrust cease-and-desist order for alleged abuse of Android dominance.

Google branding displayed at the company’s booth during CP+ 2025 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, on February 27, 2025. Photo by Stanislav Kogiku/SOPA Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

In a historic move, Japan hits Google with antitrust cease-and-desist over Android practices, accusing the tech giant of engaging in anti-competitive behavior that violated national antitrust laws. This is the first time Japanese regulators have issued such an order to a global technology company, signaling a more aggressive stance against Big Tech in the world's third-largest economy.

Saiko Nakajima of the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) announced the decision on Tuesday, stating that Google’s conduct could “impede fair competition” in Japan’s mobile ecosystem. “This will encourage competition and benefit society,” Nakajima said during a press conference. The JFTC’s investigation focused on Google’s bundling of its popular services—specifically, the Google Play app store and Chrome browser—on Android smartphones sold in the Japanese market.

Allegations of restrictive Android practices

According to the JFTC, since at least July 2020, Google has required smartphone manufacturers to install its web browser, Chrome, as part of a mandatory package along with Google Play. Google Play’s dominance is such that Android phones are considered virtually unsellable in Japan without access to it.

A government source had previously told AFP that this bundling practice left manufacturers with little choice but to comply with Google’s conditions, stifling competition and reducing consumer choice.

In its official statement, the JFTC argued that these restrictive agreements created unfair barriers for rival services and potentially locked users into Google’s ecosystem. “We have concluded that Google LLC’s conduct threatens to impede fair competition,” Nakajima said.

No fines yet, but pressure mounts

While the JFTC did not impose any financial penalties on Google, the cease-and-desist order is expected to have significant ramifications. It compels the company to change its practices moving forward, giving Android smartphone manufacturers in Japan more freedom to choose which apps and services they pre-install on devices.

“This will increase the options available to smartphone makers and promote fairer competition in the marketplace,” Nakajima explained.

Google Japan responded by expressing disappointment in the decision. “Our agreements with Japanese partners help to promote competition and have undeniably boosted their ability to invest in product innovations,” the company said. “We will review the order thoroughly to determine our next steps.”

A global wave of antitrust actions

The decision that Japan hits Google with antitrust cease-and-desist over Android practices mirrors similar moves by regulators in other parts of the world. The European Commission, for example, ruled in 2023 that Google could face a fine of up to 10 percent of its global revenue if it did not address concerns over its online advertising business. Regulators in Brussels even suggested that Google should consider divesting parts of its empire, including some services tied to advertising and search.

In the United States, the Department of Justice in November asked a federal judge to force Google to divest its Chrome browser, accusing the company of illegally maintaining monopolies in digital advertising and search.

These actions reflect growing global unease over the market dominance of tech giants like Google, Amazon, Apple, and Meta, and their ability to shape digital markets to their advantage. Japan’s entry into this global regulatory push adds another layer of scrutiny that Google must now navigate.

Japan’s broader antitrust focus

The move that Japan hits Google with antitrust cease-and-desist also follows a broader trend within the country to crack down on monopolistic behavior. The JFTC has recently turned its attention to Amazon as well. In 2023, the commission conducted an on-site inspection of Amazon Japan’s offices in Tokyo. It accused the e-commerce giant of exploiting its powerful “buy box” feature to force third-party sellers into lowering prices, thus undercutting competition from other online marketplaces.

The JFTC claimed that Amazon Japan’s actions amounted to an abuse of market dominance, further showcasing the commission’s willingness to confront tech firms on their home turf.

Implications for Android smartphone market

The impact of this cease-and-desist order may ripple through Japan’s tech and telecom sectors. If Android smartphone makers are no longer required to bundle Chrome and other Google services with their devices, this could open the door for alternative browsers and app stores. Smaller developers and tech firms may find new opportunities to reach consumers without being overshadowed by Google’s pre-installed apps.

It also means that Japanese consumers could start seeing a wider variety of services preloaded onto their phones, potentially leading to greater innovation and competition.

Still, some experts caution that simply unbundling services doesn’t necessarily solve the problem of dominance. Consumers tend to stick with familiar brands, and Google’s apps have become default choices for millions globally. Nevertheless, regulators hope that by leveling the playing field, new contenders will gain the room they need to compete.

The future of Big Tech regulation in Japan

Now that Japan hits Google with antitrust cease-and-desist, observers are watching to see how other tech companies operating in Japan respond. Will this trigger preemptive changes to contracts and licensing models by Apple, Meta, or Amazon? Or will it spark a series of similar investigations by the JFTC and other Japanese authorities?

There are already signs that Tokyo is aligning itself more closely with international efforts to regulate digital monopolies. Japan has held dialogues with EU regulators and American authorities over the past few years, and the country’s legislative bodies have begun discussing frameworks for future tech oversight.

Digital policy experts believe this moment marks a turning point for Japan. Once seen as more conservative in its approach to regulating foreign tech firms, Japan is now signaling that it is ready to take bold actions to defend fair competition and consumer welfare.

Google’s next steps

As the global spotlight now shines on Japan, Google must decide how to proceed. Will it challenge the order through legal means, adjust its practices voluntarily, or look for alternative arrangements with Japanese phone makers?

The company’s response could set a precedent for how it manages regulatory relationships in other regions. For now, the world watches as Japan becomes the latest—and potentially most surprising—country to draw a hard line against the digital dominance of Silicon Valley.