🚨 Big news from Japan! The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) just dropped a cease and desist order on Google. No more sweetheart deals for pre-installing Chrome and Google Search on Android phones. 🚫📱
Here’s the scoop: Google allegedly strong-armed phone makers into placing Chrome as the default browser and sticking those app icons right on the home screen. And guess what? They threw in a slice of ad revenue to sweeten the pot. 🍰💰 Six manufacturers were in on this since at least 2020. Sneaky, right?
This isn’t just a local skirmish. The US is side-eyeing Google too, with a judge calling them out as a “monopolist” in the search game. A big ol’ trial’s kicking off next month. 🏛️⚖️
Meanwhile, Japan’s economy minister is jetting off to the US for tariff talks. Coincidence? Maybe. But it’s clear the global tech playground is getting a new set of rules. 🌍🔄
