Japan to crack down on Apple and Google app store monopolies

Antitrust curbs to require tech giants to allow third-party app platforms and billing

20231226N Google Apple screens

Google and Apple both require mobile apps to generally use their billing systems. (Photo by Masaharu Ban)

RYOHEI YASOSHIMA and RIHO NAGAO, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- Japan is preparing regulations that would require tech giants like Apple and Google to allow outside app stores and payments on their mobile operating systems, Nikkei has learned, in a bid to curb abuse of their dominant position in the Japanese market.

Legislation slated to be sent to the parliament in 2024 would restrict moves by platform operators to keep users in the operators' own ecosystems and shut out rivals, focusing mainly on four areas: app stores and payments, search, browsers, and operating systems.

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