Japan's Antitrust Watchdog to Conclude Google Violated Law in Search Case
Japan's competition watchdog is set to declare Google in breach of the country's antitrust regulations, according to Nikkei Asia. The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) is preparing to issue a cease and desist order to Google, urging the tech giant to cease its monopolistic behaviours.
The investigation by the Japanese competition authority began last October, focusing on potential violations of antimonopoly laws in Google's web search services. This move follows similar actions taken by regulatory bodies in Europe and other significant markets.
Google, a key player in the tech industry, has not yet responded to requests for comments on the matter. Likewise, the JFTC has not provided any official statements regarding the reported findings.
Chrome, Google's widely used web browser, plays a crucial role in the company's operations. It gathers user data that enables Google to enhance the targeting of advertisements, contributing significantly to its profitability.
In a related development, the U.S. Department of Justice recently argued in court that Google's parent company, Alphabet, should be required to divest its Chrome browser. The proposal also suggested barring Google from re-entering the browser market for five years, aiming to address concerns about Google's dominance in the search sector.
Japan's competition watchdog to find Google guilty of antitrust law violation
Cease and desist order expected to be issued to Google
Investigation initiated in October following actions by European and other authorities
Source: REUTERS