TOKYO (Realist English). Japan’s antitrust regulator unveiled draft guidelines on Thursday for a new law designed to rein in the dominance of Google and Apple in the smartphone app market. The rules, set to take full effect in December 2025, are part of a broader effort by the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) to promote fair competition and protect smaller software developers.
The proposed regulations specifically target the control that Apple’s App Store and Google Play exert over the mobile ecosystem — from payment systems to app distribution and data usage. The JFTC said the new framework will prevent the two tech giants from excluding rival apps or engaging in unfair practices that tilt the market in their favor.
“This law allows us to respond more swiftly to anticompetitive conduct than the traditional antimonopoly law,” a JFTC official stated.
Key provisions of the draft guidelines:
- No exclusion of competing apps: Apple and Google will be barred from blocking rival apps from transitioning between platforms or imposing arbitrary screening processes beyond standard security and quality checks.
- Ban on self-preferencing: The companies will be prohibited from using data obtained through their operating systems or app stores to develop competing products or services — a measure aimed at preventing data-driven favoritism.
- Fair treatment of third-party developers: The rules are intended to ensure equal access and reduce obstacles for smaller players seeking to publish or migrate apps across platforms.
- Exceptions for security and harmful content: The law will permit stricter app screening only in cases related to cybersecurity or the prevention of violent, abusive, or otherwise harmful content.
Originally enacted in part in December 2024, the law did not initially identify specific companies or enforcement mechanisms. The draft guidelines — now formally naming Apple and Google — will be subject to public consultation through June 13, with the final version expected by the end of July.
The commission has ramped up its enforcement capabilities, establishing a new tech-focused unit in April and tripling the number of part-time IT specialists to 60, many of them drawn from the private sector.
The JFTC hopes the new rules will not only increase fairness in the app ecosystem but also drive down consumer prices and expand access to innovative applications.
Japan’s move reflects a global trend toward regulating digital gatekeepers. By targeting platform-level leverage, Tokyo is attempting to strike a balance between innovation and accountability. If successfully implemented, the law could serve as a model for other mid-sized economies seeking to tame platform monopolies without stifling digital growth.
