After Europe, Japan introduces law to curb Apple and Google’s app store dominance
The law will take effect by the end of 2025.
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Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority
- Japan passed a new law to promote competition in the app store market, targeting Apple and Google’s dominance.
- The law prohibits practices like restricting third-party app sales, prioritizing own services in search results, and limiting payment options.
- The legislation is expected to take effect by the end of 2025, and violations could result in hefty fines.
Japan’s parliament passed a landmark law on Wednesday, officially titled the Act on Promotion of Competition for Specified Smartphone Software. The law is a direct response to concerns about stifled competition and consumer choice, particularly regarding Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android operating systems, which have dominated the smartphone market.
This legislation, echoing some elements of Europe’s recent Digital Markets Act (DMA), aims to prevent tech giants like Apple and Google from monopolizing app sales and operations on their respective platforms, a practice generally known as “gatekeeping.”
