Google faces antitrust scrutiny in Asia after US lawsuit

Regulators step up oversight of tech giants

Startups in India have complained about Google's 30% commission on sales made via apps distributed through the Google Play Store. © Reuters

FRANCESCA REGALADO and WATARU SUZUKI, Nikkei staff writers

October 21, 2020 18:15 JST

TOKYO -- The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing the search company of using anti-competitive tactics to maintain a monopoly. The decision may ripple across Asia, where fast-growing digital economies mean tighter oversight of U.S. tech giants.

Japan will design regulations regarding the use of data and digital services "while taking into account international trends," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told reporters on Wednesday.