Google is being investigated by Japan’s Fair Trade Commission
The investigation is focusing on whether Google has violated antimonopoly regulations by paying Android phone makers to avoid installing search engines from its competitors.
The Commission is scrutinizing Google for its practices around installing Google Search and Chrome on Android devices. According to an official from the Japan Fair Trade Commission, the problem is not whether the majority of people use Google services and that those are popular, but the issue is whether the company attempted to eliminate its competition.
As you may probably know, that’s far from the first time Google has been investigated on the topic, and on its broader effect on the industry. In 2020, the US Justice Department opened an investigation with similar allegations, and the trial is currently underway. The trial alleges Google has formed agreements with other companies to put Google’s search engine above alternatives from competitors, and that such behavior is improper. South Korea also has an investigation on the Mountain View giant, which began in August of this year.
The result of all these investigations is still unclear. One thing is clear though: regulatory bodies are set on establishing fair competition, and Google can’t escape their scrutinizing eyes.
