Japan could soon approve legislation forcing Apple and Google to open up their platforms to alternative app marketplaces and more to curb the “smartphone app duopoly” on iOS and Android, according to Japan Times.
Like the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), the proposed Japanese bill would force Apple and Google to accept alternative app marketplaces on their respective platforms, in addition to third-party payment platforms, and prohibit preferential treatment to first-party apps and services. The report adds that the antitrust bill is currently being mulled over at the parliament, and will likely be accepted by both parliament chambers by the end of June.
Japan began the legislative process curbing Apple’s and Google’s influence last year after an October probe launched by the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) into Google over allegedly forcing Android OEMs to use its services as default. As reported, the proposed bill would empower the JFTC to penalize violators by up to 20 percent of their local sales, which is lower than the EU’s maximum fine of 10 percent for those found to breach the DMA terms.
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The Japanese antitrust bill will likely come into effect by the end of 2025 if passed during the parliament’s ongoing session, meaning that Apple will be forced to comply and amend the iPhone’s software in time for iOS 19. Japan’s legislation is unlikely to incur significant changes to iOS as a whole, as alternative app marketplaces are already live in the EU across 27 member states following the launch of the iOS 17.4 update.
