In a similar case, the European Union took action against Google in 2018, accusing Google of breaching European antitrust law over the contractual restrictions Google imposes on Android handset makers. That case resulted in Google being fined the equivalent of $4.3 billion, with the fine upheld in court in 2022.

Google Search’s business model is costing the company more than a few headaches. A few weeks ago, a US court ruled that Google was practicing an illegal monopoly in the search engine segment. Recently,

Japan’s antitrust watchdog is reportedly accusing Google of violating antitrust laws over its Chrome browser and bundling deals with smartphone makers. Japan's Fair Trade Commission found Google unfairly stifled competition in search market and could issue a cease and desist order.

The JFTC reportedly accuses Google of requiring smartphone manufacturers to sign a contract stating Chrome will be not only pre-downloaded on all devices, but that it will be placed in a certain spot on the screen. The manufacturers are allegedly forced to do this in order to have the Google Play available on their devices.

Japanese authorities will hand Google a cease-and-desist order over an alleged antitrust violation in the first such move against a US tech titan, a government source said Monday. The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) accuses Google of breaking the law by imposing "transactions with binding conditions" on Android smartphone manufacturers in Japan.

Japan's competition watchdog plans to order U.S. IT giant Google to halt violations of the country's antitrust law, sources familiar with the matter said