Google under scrutiny (once again), this time by Japan for alleged monopolistic actions

Google (and other tech giants) is no stranger to antitrust investigations and scrutiny. You know, the greater the power, the greater the responsibility (and the more people are willing to demand it from you). NOW, Android Police Reports that the Japanese Fair Trade Commission is investigating Google for another possible antitrust case.

Google under investigation by Japan Fair Trade Commission

The investigation aims to determine whether Google violated anti-monopoly regulations by paying Android phone makers to avoid installing its competitors’ search engines.

The Commission is examining Google for its practices regarding the installation of Google Search and Chrome on Android devices. According to an official at the Japan Fair Trade Commission, the issue is not whether the majority of people use Google’s services and whether they are popular, but rather whether the company has tried to eliminate its competitors.

As you probably know, this is far from the first time Google has been under investigation on the topic and its broader effects on the industry. In 2020, the US Department of Justice opened an investigation into similar allegations, and the trial is currently ongoing. The lawsuit alleges that Google has made deals with other companies to place its search engine above competitors’ alternatives, and that such behavior is inappropriate. South Korea is also conducting an investigation into the Mountain View giant, which began in August this year.

The outcome of all these investigations is still unclear. One thing is clear, however: regulators are committed to fair competition, and Google cannot escape their scrutiny.