In a major move against unfair business practices, Japan’s Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has ordered Google to stop pressuring smartphone makers to favor its own search engine and web browser on Android devices. The antitrust watchdog found that Google has been making unfair demands on phone manufacturers, giving its own apps an illegal advantage over competitors.

What Did Google Do Wrong?

Since at least July 2020, Google has been requiring Android phone makers in Japan to prioritize its Google Search app and Chrome browser as part of their licensing agreements. These agreements allow phone manufacturers to use Google’s app store, the Play Store, which is essential for selling Android phones.

The JFTC found that Google made these demands to at least six major smartphone companies, affecting about 80% of Android phones sold in Japan. By forcing manufacturers to favor Google’s own apps, the tech giant made it harder for rival search engines (like Yahoo! Japan or Microsoft’s Bing) and browsers (like Firefox or Opera) to compete fairly.

Why Is This a Problem?

When a company as big as Google forces its products on users, it limits competition. Imagine if only one brand of shoes was allowed in every store—customers wouldn’t get to choose the best or most affordable option. Similarly, if Google’s apps are pre-installed and set as defaults, users may never try other services, even if they’re better.

This kind of behavior is called anti-competitive practice, and it’s illegal in many countries, including Japan. The JFTC’s order tells Google to stop these unfair tactics and create a more level playing field for other companies.

What Happens Next?

Google must now remove these unfair conditions from its contracts with smartphone makers. If it doesn’t comply, the company could face fines or further legal action.

This isn’t the first time Google has been in trouble for anti-competitive behavior. In the U.S. and Europe, regulators have also taken action against the company for similar practices. In 2023, the European Union fined Google billions of dollars for forcing its search engine and browser on Android users.

How Does This Affect Android Users?

For now, most Android phones in Japan will still come with Google Search and Chrome pre-installed. However, in the future, phone makers might have more freedom to offer different default apps. This could mean:

More choices for users when setting up their phones.
Better competition, leading to improved apps and services.
Fairer deals for smaller companies trying to compete with Google.

Google’s Response

Google has not yet made a detailed public statement, but in the past, the company has argued that its agreements help ensure a consistent experience for Android users. However, regulators believe that Google’s power in the market is so strong that these rules unfairly block competitors.

What Does This Mean for the Future?

This decision is part of a global push to regulate big tech companies. Governments around the world are working to prevent giants like Google, Apple, and Amazon from using their dominance to crush competition.

If more countries take similar action, we could see:

More options for consumers instead of being locked into one company’s apps.
More innovation as smaller companies get a fair chance to compete.
Stricter rules for tech giants to prevent future unfair practices.

Japan’s order against Google is a big step toward fair competition in the tech industry. By stopping Google from forcing its apps on Android phones, the JFTC is ensuring that users have real choices and that other companies can compete fairly.

This case shows that even the biggest tech companies must follow the rules—and when they don’t, governments will step in to protect consumers and smaller businesses.