Japan to order Google to make these changes on its search app on Android smartphones

Japan's Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) is set to find Google in violation of the country's antitrust laws over contracts that require smartphone manufacturers to pre-install its search applications, marking the first such order against a US tech giant by the Japanese watchdog.

According to Reuters, the competition authority will issue a cease-and-desist order against Google, requiring the company to halt practices deemed monopolistic in the internet search market.

The JFTC's investigation revealed that Google had made agreements with Android smartphone manufacturers, conditioning their access to app stores on the mandatory installation of Google Search and Chrome browser applications on device home screens.

The anticipated ruling follows similar antitrust actions against Google in other major markets. Just last month, the US Department of Justice argued in court that Google should be forced to divest its Chrome browser business and face a five-year ban from re-entering the browser market to end its search monopoly.

The Japanese watchdog has already notified Google of its planned action and will finalize its decision after hearing the company's response. Chrome, as the world's most widely used web browser, plays a crucial role in Google's business model by providing valuable user data that enhances the company's advertising targeting capabilities.

Google has not yet responded to requests for comment on the JFTC's forthcoming order, which aligns Japan with Western regulators in taking a stronger stance against the tech giant's market dominance.