Technology
Japan launches antimonopoly probe into Google's search dominance
Japan's comPetition watchdog said on Monday it has started investigating Google for a possible breach of antimonopoly laws in web search services, following similar steps by authorities in Europe and other major economies.
The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) said it was investigating whether Google violated Japan's Antimonopoly Act by returning part of its revenue to Android smartphone makers on the condition they not install rival search engines.
It is also looking into Google's practice of making Android phone makers install its "Google Search" and "Google Chrome" browser applications with the "Google Play" app.
"There is suspicion that through these steps it is excluding competitors' business activity and restricting its business partners' business activity in the search services market," a JFTC official told a press conference.
The official said the issue was not that Google's service was widely used, it was about fair comPetition.
"We've launched this probe wondering if the situation under which other search engine providers' services have a hard time being recognised as a user's choice, no matter how much improvement has been made, is artificially created."
The decision follows similar investigations by antitrust regulators in the European Union, the United States and others.
-
Technology5h ago
Tiny, transparent chip could transform your smartphone into a professional-grade camera
-
Technology5h ago
Are electric vehicles safer than gas-powered cars? Maybe for the passengers—but not for everyone else.
-
Technology1d ago
Animal behavior research is getting better at keeping observer bias from sneaking in – but there’s still room to improve
-
Technology1d ago
A look inside the cyberwar between Israel and Hamas reveals the civilian toll
-
Technology2d ago
Boeing’s Starliner is about to launch − if successful, the test represents an important milestone for commercial spaceflight
-
Technology2d ago
Breakthrough 6G antenna could lead to high-speed communications and holograms
-
Technology2d ago
What You Need to Know About the New WhatsApp Features
-
Technology2d ago
Brain cancer in children is notoriously hard to treat – a new mRNA cancer vaccine triggers an attack from within