Japan orders Google to stop pre-installing Chrome and its other apps on Android smartphones

The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) on Tuesday issued a cease-and-desist order against for violating the country's anti-monopoly law by forcing Android smartphone manufacturers to preinstall Google's apps, marking the first such action against a major US tech giant in Japan.
"By binding smartphone manufacturers and telecommunication carriers, Google has made it difficult for other competing search engine applications to be used on Android phones," said Saiko Nakajima, a senior investigator for digital platform operators at the commission.
According to the JFTC, Google required manufacturers to install Google Play and Chrome apps on their devices and place them in easily accessible locations on the home screen. The company allegedly paid portions of its advertising revenue to manufacturers as part of these contracts, provided they set Chrome as the default browser and avoided preinstalling competing search apps.
"Google's conduct in this case has created a risk of impeding fair competition concerning transactions — thus, we have determined that this is an act in violation of the Antimonopoly Act," Nakajima added.
As of December 2024, Google had agreements with at least six manufacturers producing approximately 80% of Android smartphones used in Japan, the commission stated.
The cease-and-desist order instructs Google to stop these practices, bars it from requiring manufacturers to preinstall its apps, and directs the company to develop compliance guidelines. Google must also appoint an independent third party to monitor and report back to the watchdog over the next five years.
Google expressed disappointment with the order in a statement, saying it would "work with the JFTC to ensure Android remains a competitive choice."
This action follows similar regulatory moves against Google in the United States and Europe. Japanese regulators began their investigation in 2023 after consulting with overseas authorities dealing with comparable cases.