Japan readies antitrust action against Google over search ads

Regulator expected to accept voluntary improvement plan in case involving Yahoo tie-up

20240415N Google search

The Japan Fair Trade Commission has been investigating Google's search advertising business. © Reuters

KONORI FUJITA, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Japan's antitrust watchdog is planning to push Google to voluntarily reform its business practices over alleged unfair restrictions on a search advertising partnership with Yahoo, Nikkei has learned.

The Japan Fair Trade Commission has been investigating the Alphabet unit over keyword-targeted search ad technology it provides to Yahoo, now a subsidiary of Line operator LY Corp., according to a source familiar with the situation. Google is believed to have already submitted an improvement plan to prevent the problem from happening again, which the agency is expected to soon accept.

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