Google hit with antitrust order in Japan over preinstalled Android apps

What just happened? In a landmark decision that signals a new era of regulatory scrutiny for global technology giants, Japan's Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has issued a cease-and-desist order against Google, accusing the company of violating the nation's anti-monopoly law by compelling smartphone manufacturers to preinstall its apps on Android devices. This marks the first time Japan has taken such action against a member of the so-called GAFAM group – Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft – and reflects the growing international momentum to rein in the power of Big Tech. According to the JFTC, Google's practices date back to at least July 2020, when the company began requiring Android phone makers to install Google Play and Google Chrome and to feature these apps prominently on device home screens as a condition for accessing the Google Play app store. The commission found that these arrangements, known as Mobile Application Distribution Agreements, restricted competition b ... Read full article.