Japan Orders Google to Halt Restrictive Search Practices on Android Devices

Japan’s Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) issued a cease and desist order against Google on Tuesday, citing violations of the country’s anti-monopoly law related to the company’s search services on Android devices, CNBC reports.

According to the Commission, Google engaged in unfair trade practices by requiring Android device manufacturers to prioritize the company’s own search apps—specifically Google Search and Chrome—as a condition of licensing agreements. These agreements allowed manufacturers such as Samsung and Lenovo to preinstall essential Google apps like the Play Store onto their devices.

The JFTC stated that as of December 2024, at least six such agreements were in place. The Commission also alleged that Google restricted access to its advertising revenue-sharing model for companies that chose to feature competing search services, effectively limiting competition.

Under Japan’s anti-monopoly law, businesses are prohibited from imposing conditions that unfairly restrict their transaction partners’ ability to conduct business. The order instructs Google to stop mandating the preinstallation or preferential treatment of its own apps and to revise its advertising revenue terms to offer more flexibility for device makers.

Google has also been directed to appoint an independent third party that will monitor and report on the company’s compliance with the order over the next five years.

This action follows a broader international trend, with antitrust regulators in the United States and United Kingdom also investigating Google’s market practices. The JFTC noted it collaborated with overseas competition authorities during its investigation.

The Commission began its probe into Google in October 2023 and initially approved a commitment plan from the company in April 2024 that aimed to address some concerns. However, the issuance of a cease and desist order signals a more assertive stance from Japanese regulators and marks the first such measure against a US tech company.

The move comes amid increasing scrutiny of large technology firms around the globe. In a notable case last year, a US federal judge found Google to have illegally maintained a monopoly in the search engine market through exclusive deals, including those involving both Android and Apple devices.

Meanwhile, the UK’s competition authority launched its own investigation into Google’s search business in early 2025, following recent changes in British competition legislation.