Android Smartphone Market

On April 15, 2025, Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) issued a formal cease-and-desist order to Google LLC, marking a significant regulatory intervention under Japan’s Antimonopoly Act. The Commission found that Google had been engaging in conduct falling under “Trading on Restrictive Terms”, as defined in paragraph (12) of the Unfair Trade Practices provision.

The case, which stemmed from an investigation that began on October 23, 2023 and included cooperation with overseas antitrust authorities, concluded that Google’s contractual arrangements with Android smartphone manufacturers and mobile network operators (MNOs) unfairly restricted competition in the market for general search