Japanese competition watchdogs are investigating Google for alleged violations of antitrust laws in its web search services, following similar concerns raised in Europe. The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has revealed that it is currently probing allegations that Google violated Japanese Antimonopoly Law by sharing advertising revenue with Android smartphone manufacturers on the condition that they do not install competing search engines. Furthermore, Japanese competition authorities are examining Google's practice of compelling Android smartphone manufacturers to install Google Search and Google Chrome apps via Google Play.

An official from the JFTC stated, "There are suspicions that through these actions, Google may be excluding the business activities of competitors and restricting the business activities of its business partners in the search service market." The primary concern here is not just how widely Google's services are used but whether competition in the industry remains healthy.

This investigation follows a series of similar inquiries conducted by antitrust regulators in the European Union, the United States, and various other countries. The allegations against Google closely resemble the case brought by the EU against the company in 2018, which resulted in Google paying a fine of $4.12 billion or approximately Rp65.4 trillion.

The U.S. Department of Justice recently initiated one of the largest antitrust cases in U.S. history, accusing Google of unfairly monopolizing the search engine business, where Google holds nearly 90 percent market share in the U.S. As pressure mounts, Google continues to assert that its dominance is a matter of quality, and users of its search engine are free to choose other products.

In Japan, Google's market share in the search engine business stands at around 70 percent. Google believes that this achievement is a result of hard work and innovation, and they emphasize that their goal is to promote, rather than hinder, competition.

A company spokesperson stated that they will continue to collaborate with government agencies to demonstrate how they support the Android ecosystem and expand user choices in Japan. Regulators in Japan have also sought input from relevant third parties, with a deadline set for November 22, 2023.