Japan tells Google to stop antitrust practice over smartphone app

Japan's competition watchdog on Tuesday ordered U.S. IT giant Google LLC to stop unfairly requiring smartphone makers to preinstall its search and browser apps in violation of antitrust law, urging the company to revise its contracts and refrain from similar conduct.In issuing its first cease and desist order against one of the so-called GAFA tech giants, the Japan Fair Trade Commission concluded that the firm, which dominates the online search market, had improperly hindered competition at home.Google called the move "regrettable" in a statement, adding that it would review the order and c…READ FULL ARTICLE