Google once again faces monopoly accusations, but outside the US this time around

Google is back in the spotlight for antitrust issues, but this time the scrutiny comes from Japan, not the U.S. Japan’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) is reportedly preparing to issue a cease-and-desist order against the tech giant for alleged violations of the country’s anti-monopoly laws. If finalized, it would mark the first such order against a U.S. tech company by Japan’s FTC.

According to reports from Nikkei Asia and The Japan Times, Google has been forcing smartphone manufacturers to pre-install its apps, like Google Search and Chrome, on devices running its Android operating system. These agreements allegedly include conditions that allow manufacturers to include their own app stores only if Google’s apps are prominently featured. In some cases, Google is also said to have paid a share of its search ad revenue to manufacturers on the condition that they avoid installing competing search apps.

This isn’t a sudden move. Japan’s FTC launched its investigation into Google’s practices over a year ago, with an initial focus on its digital ads business. In April, the agency took its first administrative action against the company. Now, after notifying Google of its intention to act, the FTC is expected to make a final decision after hearing the company’s defense.

The allegations are similar to those Google has faced in other regions, including the U.S. and the EU. However, this action highlights the growing global resistance to practices that regulators say unfairly limit competition. Google’s contracts with manufacturers have been a long-standing point of contention, with many arguing that they stifle innovation and make it harder for rival apps to gain traction.

Google hasn’t commented on the reports yet, and it’s unclear how the company plans to respond. But with regulators tightening their grip worldwide, this latest development shows that Japan isn’t afraid to challenge one of the biggest names in tech.